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Milano Cortina 2026
  • Tricia Wendorf
  • Steven Wendorf
  • Tricia Wendorf
  • Steven Wendorf

Milano Cortina 2026

Chasing Gold in Italy 🇮🇹
A once-in-a-lifetime journey to the Winter Olympics—where excited crowds, breathtaking scenery, and Italian indulgence collide. Milano and Cortina deliver the perfect mix of adrenaline and elegance. Read more
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  • Trip start
    February 4, 2026
    Milano Cortina 2026
    2

    Venice days one and two

    February 6 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 48 °F

    Arrived in Venice a bit bleary eyed but we were excited to get on our water taxi and get into the beautiful city of Venice. So much to see, so many masquerade costumes and visitors from all around the world. The whole city is an architectural masterpiece with even the smallest buildings containing works by some of the greatest artists such as Giorgione, Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese. We visited and toured the Doge Palace and St. Marks Basilica and learned more about the art and history of Venice at the Correr museum. It was a full walking day, rainy but still really beautiful. We enjoyed a lovely afternoon wine tasting and placed an order of some of our favorites to be shipped home. Met friends out for dinner before rounding off the night with Venice based music ensemble Interpreti Veneziani. And if course gelato before bed. A lovely first day and a half. Steve will add more too!Read more

  • Milano Cortina 2026
    Outside our air bnb in Funtanacia/LaValleRefugioQuick beverage before our snow walkGnocchi with speckDolomiti beer

    Last few days

    February 7 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 36 °F

    Bongiorno! We arrived in the northern region of Italy on Saturday. It’s been hard to catch a moment to write a post so here are some highlights of the last few days. We are staying in the small town of LaValle this week with our group of 6 couples. Nestled on the Dolomites, our chalet is old, quaint and full of charm. We’ve done plenty of eating and began with a dinner in our chalet prepared by a local chef. Arctic char, risotto, beef tenderloin, all fantastico. Some of the group have skied while others enjoyed some snow hiking. Later this week we will take in a few Olympic events in the area. More to come on that.Read more

  • Milano Cortina 2026
    1

    Cross Country Downhill Skiing and more

    February 9 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 27 °F

    Downhill skiing here is like no other. We skied a big loop across the region--or cross country. Make sense? It is an intricate web of lifts, small and large gondolas and pommel. You literally can ski to towns all across the area and more. It's not up and back down and repeat. You can do that of course.

    Ski day one we (the guys in the house) skied over 15 miles from our starting point. We ski thru parts of towns on cat walks, around huge ridge lines and valleys. It's amazing.

    Stats day one 23 lifts 34,000ft of elevation and several great tasting refreshments at a few of the over 30+ refugios and ski huts. Day two stats was 30,000ft in elevation w a top speed of 53mph-that wasn't me.

    They think of everything--hospitality, the food and the runs were outstanding. It's just wow!! Skiing costs a third of what costs in Colorado. The cost of the plane tix is where it evens out. We are all like...when are we coming back? This is so unique. You all would enjoy it so much. The scenery stops u in your tracks. Do u ski or just take pics? I have some cool video. I will post soon.    Read more

  • Milano Cortina 2026
    111Local Cortina Olympic torchFinal toss that won bronze for italia1112 excited Americans ready for the OlympicsCurling crewPrecious little CortinaLunch bierSwanky swiss set up for evening dj partySwiss house backyard party zone pre djFinish line was about 100 meters up hill and this shows the final 20

    Cortin-AHH!

    February 10 in Italy ⋅ 🌫 21 °F

    We are Olympic virgins no more! Our day started at 8:30am with a trip to Cafe for a roll and cappuccino for the road.. Then off to the park and ride. Then shuttle coach bus on a switch back intense final leg into Cortina.

    Our first event-bronze medal mixed doubles curling. Great Britain vs Italy. It came down to the last stone in the last inning and the home crowd rejoiced! The second event was women single luge. With the US taking 3rd. We were in the curling event for 1.5 hours and the same for luge. We didn't get to see the last run for luge due to pending dinner reservations. And we didn't miss much. U literally see them one second, if that. The luge course structure is massive and must have cost a fortune..they basically built I over parts of the 1956 course.

    Lunch at Forst German restaurant and shocker we had pork knuckle! Dinner was at El Vizietto a super small, cozy, inexpensive charmer. Between events we stopped at bar w longtime NHLer Matt Cullen from Fargo jersey hanging over the bar.

    We ran into a US couple that the wife told us about her Olympic miracle on ice account as a college student at Vermont. She decided at the last minute to watch a hockey game w her roomie for the 80 olympics, but didn't have a ticket. Drove over to lake placid. Slept in a basement church and met a random guy at the bar who was impressed w their hockey knowledge and enthusiasm and was able to sneak them in the back door to watch, unbeknownst to them, hockey immortality! Super neat lady.

    Back to La Villa by 1015pm

    Just a super fun day!! Go USA!    Read more

  • Milano Cortina 2026

    Last few days in LaValle

    February 11 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 52 °F

    So much to love about this part of our trip!
    We’ve been tucked away in sweet little La Valle, waking up each morning surrounded by the quiet beauty of the Dolomites. Ski days in Alta Badia have been nothing short of magical — bluebird skies, perfectly groomed runs, and that crisp mountain air that makes everything feel alive.

    Evenings? Pure Italian bliss. Long, laughter-filled dinners with our favorite crew — incredible food, flowing wine, and the kind of conversations that stretch late into the night.

    Now we’re trading ski boots for train seats, rolling from Venice to Bergamo for two cozy nights before heading onward to Lake Como and Milan. The Olympic energy is building — next up: short track speed skating and hockey! 🇮🇹🏒⛸️

    On to the second leg of our adventure… more memories loading.

    Ciao for now 🤍    Read more

  • Milano Cortina 2026
    The only non beautiful building in Italy housed our short track speed skating event.

    Short Track Speedskating Wow!

    February 16 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 46 °F

    Back to Olympic action Monday. Our arena was located well south of the inner core of Milano. Watching it live is exciting. It feels like old fashioned roller derby combined with traditional speed skating. We saw lots of action. Multiple collisions at speeds up to 35mph. They are flying. When the race is about to begin, the loud speaker comes on and sez SHOOSH! Then they go. The track course also shifts after each race so they are not skaton the previous race ice ruts. The crashes are sometimes like a bowling pin taking out the pins. The skate blades are about 17 inches long.and contestants try to protect themselves w neck guards, face shield and just put their hands over their face when they crash. We saw about 24 races at varying lengths including relay races that were about 45 laps. The US didn't fare well. Norwegians were well represented as were the Italians. Norway pop is about the same as MN but are rocking the Olympic medal count.
    .    Read more

  • Milano Cortina 2026
    1112Stephan-o's first cappuccino. Bellisimo!Bro code.

    Day Trip to Lugano Switzerland

    February 17 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 46 °F

    Off day today from Olympic action on Tuesday. So we walked from our villa perched over Lake Como. We are technically staying in a suburb to Como, called Cernobbio. Cha, not sir-nobbio. I had my first coffee of my life yesterday. It was a cappuccino...and I survived. Our walk along the lake took about an hour and fifteen. Then hopped on a 30 minute train to Lugano, Switzerland for the afternoon. Beautiful town along the lake, not as medieval or historical. Very clean though. Dinner back Cernobbio was recommended by a young woman traveler on the train back from Lugano and we had the best and largest (18 to 20 inches wide) pizza on the trip. Super thin, large and tasty at Frederico's, a half hour walk to the villa. We were the first to arrive and were told they were large...but had no idea. Wow! All told, our step count was 21,000 steps today. Absolutely gorgeous day, low 50s, bluebird day! Check out the pic w horse chunks on the menu at a fantastic lunch place of a Puglia, Italy region owner. Its not what u think, surprisingly. Ciao!Read more

  • Milano Cortina 2026
    Sunset apertivo balcony
    Salute!First night in Cernobbio, chef prepared dinner by Martin and FredricaCan't pass up a latte macchiatoGalleria Milano1Scala opera house1Victory!

    Cernobbio and trips to Milano

    February 18 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 50 °F

    The week is racing by! Our villa with friends is tucked up on the hills of Cernobbio, near Como on Lago di Como. It’s a good hour drive for us to get to Milan for Olympic events and sight seeing. The roads up here are literally just a bit wider than a sidewalk making turns and sharing the road interesting and you just sorta hold your breath as you navigate. The views are breathtaking from our balcony.

    Trips to Milan have included events at the ice center like short track speed skating and also the men’s hockey quarterfinal game against CAN and CZE at Santa Guilia arena. Last night was about as exciting as it gets as we watched and witnessed the US women’s hockey team defeat CAN in the final. So much buzz and energy in that place. Soar throat from the yelling. What a thrill to be there live.

    Also have taken in views of the Duomo and Galleria and had a tour of the Teatro alla Scala, historic opera house in Milan. It was built in 1778, where many composers wrote and conducted works including such greats as Rossini, Puccini, Verdi and Toscanini. We saw a quick glimpse of a rehearsal for an upcoming performance- Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung), WWV 86, is a cycle of four German-language epic music dramas composed by Richard Wagner. This is based loosely on characters from Germanic heroic legend, namely Norse legendary sagas and the Nibelungenlied. The sets were outstanding and the opera house is beautiful.

    We have two full days left on our trip! Ciao for now.    Read more

  • Milano Cortina 2026
    11

    Shrines and Doors

    February 22 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 27 °F

    It's fun to imagine what life was like when the church was the center of life. To walk into an old church and wonder how people must have revered the sheer beauty, scale and craftsmanship...can take your breath away...TODAY! Some are cold, dark and vacant feeling, but you can still feel a spirit, every time you enter. And then there are the doors, so medieval and grand. I always take note. So here some photos of the churches and doors of Northern Italy. And Switzerland. ;)Read more

    Trip end
    February 22, 2026
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