Italy Lago Blu

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  • Day 2โ€“4

    Italien ๐Ÿ

    April 29 in Italy โ‹… โ˜๏ธ 5 ยฐC

    Von der Schweiz nach Italien
    Wir hatten mehrmals Temperaturschwankungen am Tag. Weil wir über die wunderschönen Alpen gefahren sind. ๐ŸŒ„ ๐Ÿ”๏ธ
    Teilweise lag Schnee und paar Minuten Autofahrt weiter gingen Leute baden bei 25 Grad ๐Ÿ˜„
    Mara macht die Autofahrten Gott sei Dank super mit ๐Ÿ˜‡
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  • Day 10

    The Matterhorn to Lake Garda

    September 3, 2024 in Italy โ‹… โ›… 46 ยฐF

    The Matterhorn cleared off one more time before we left. Enjoyed coffee and breakfast on our deck though it was quite chilly. Headed down the winding mountain pass to our first stop, the fortress of Bard. Incredible place-we walked through the ancient village but chose not to pay the entrance fee and then ride three funiculars to get to the top:) After lots of tolls on the freeways we made it to Lake Garda, a gorgeous lake with massive mountains surrounding it. The drive was Amalfi-coast-esque, winding, narrow, tunnels so narrow buses needed both ‘lanes’, mopeds and motorcycles scaring the life out of us as they zipped along both sides of us! It was a long drive day so a relief to get to our lovely hotel right on the lake. We headed out to swim and cool off, then walked to town. Lovely sunset and amazing people watching! Sat out on a jetty surrounded by the lake and enjoyed the lovely warm air.Read more

  • Day 8โ€“10

    Turin to Chamois/Breuil-Cervinia

    September 1, 2024 in Italy โ‹… โ›… 66 ยฐF

    We left La Vedetta this morning. Most of you know I hate goodbyes…mama Anna and her daughter Marta love them. They got up early to see us off:) Marta cried. So much for my Irish goodbye. Super thankful for our stay with them! Drove to Turin/Torino and didn’t love it. Big, hot, and covered with graffiti. Headed towards the mountains, spotting castles and fortifications everywhere along with stone roofed villages. Made a stop in Verres for a gelato, a quick walk around the village and got to hear a local band playing.โค๏ธ Driving past a beautiful mountain river, we spotted the Matterhorn! We pulled into Chamois, a ski area with summer hiking, found a parking spot, grabbed a ticket and were up the gondola. Almost to the top we spotted three chamois-so beautiful. Jumped on a smaller chair lift that took us to a lake. JD was convinced we could just pop over this one mountain and see the Matterhorn and surrounding peaks. We set off straight uphill, on a barely discernible path, at elevation. We finally saw a sign and it wasn’t for our trail but JD was convinced he could make it to the view. I sit here now under a tree, hearing thunder in the distance and feeling some raindrops, waiting for him to return. He made it back, but unfortunately a cloud was covering Monte Cervino(Italian name for the Matterhorn) ๐Ÿง Hiked back down to the top of the chair and had a beer while listening to thunder and being sprinkled with rain. Rode the lift down to the gondola station. Had panini for dinner/lunch while waiting for the gondola line to die down. On our way to the station, saw a herd of chamois! Drove to our chalet, and didn’t realize it’s at the base of the Matterhorn. Explored the town, Breuil-Cervinia, got groceries and FaceTimed all three boys with the most amazing backdrop of the Matterhorn. Planning a big gondola/hike day tomorrow and praying for good weather.Read more

  • Day 38

    Stage 57: Chรขtillon

    August 11, 2024 in Italy โ‹… โ›… 88 ยฐF

    A lot went wrong today.

    We knew the sun would be blistering so we left at 4H45 for an 18-mile trudge. The way out of Aosta was nice, and we enjoyed the vineyards, etc. However, we made a couple navigation mistakes that cost us a lot of time and added distance. I have no real idea how far we walked, but it was definitely more than 18 miles. We stumbled into Châtillon at 15H30. Awful day.

    To wit:

    1.) I am deathly afraid of heights. Our navigation mistake took us high up the mountain where we had to traverse multiple sagging wooden bridges and too many metal grates spanning deep canyons. A nightmare, but not the worst part. The path was blocked off in the middle of nowhere. Way too many miles to backtrack. We ended up having to hold on to a railing for dear life while we climbed around the barrier with only inches of foothold over a deep chasm. I could feel my life shortening.

    2.) Liam had serious physical challenges today. He was fine in the morning but with the distance, the effort and the awful heat he got sick. Breathlessness, profuse sweating, tinitus, and, most importantly, a racing heart we could not slow down. I found myself trying to figure out where we were in case I had to (somehow?) call for help. The reality was that we had no choice other than to continue walking, even to find help.

    We crawled into the first bar we found and the owner ran over with water and Fanta and a beer for Liam. Italians are great!

    We are now in a pilgrim refuge. Our first toilet/shower experience of this kind. All’s good now!
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  • Day 6

    Day 2: Aosta to Chรขtillon

    April 24, 2024 in Italy โ‹… โ˜€๏ธ 5 ยฐC

    Today was a long one (30.6 km) and the hardest walk I've done in a long time. I don't mind admitting that I'm sore all over. I literally took the scenic route - there were so many amazing things to see, and I took advantage of every photo opportunity. I'm sure it delayed my arrival, not to mention all the breaks I took, which let me soak in the views and was worth any delay. The Way today ranged from sealed road (a fair bit of that) to goat tracks. Again, I walked alongside an irrigation canal (the Ru Mazod). As you can imagine, there is a good amount of water around here. One bit of excitement: a dog came at me. I must have startled it when I suddenly appeared around the corner. I gave it a fierce stare and said "no" in my bossy voice, and it backed right off - what a relief. Funny, lots of dogs barked at me in France (even a goose had a go), not one dog that I recall barked at me in Switzerland, but here in Italy, the dogs seem to be territorial as well. One last thing; Saint Christopher is a big deal around here!Read more

  • Day 7

    Sprehod do modrega jezera

    July 21, 2023 in Italy โ‹… โ›… 15 ยฐC

    Ogrevanje za jutri oziroma prvi sprehod po Aosti.

    Prispela sva v oblaฤno dolino, se je pa vreme hitro popravljalo in sonce naju je ลพe grelo na potki do modrega jezera (menda se mu tako reฤe).

    Vsega skup nekaj višincev in dobro uro pretegovanja nog, razveseljujejo pa razgledi na strme gore vsenaokrog. V ozadju (al pa ospredju) se je iz oblakov lupil tudi Matterhorn.

    Na povratku še en "aperol with a view". Pasalo je ๐Ÿ™‚
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  • Day 21

    Saint-Vincent

    May 5 in Italy โ‹… โ˜๏ธ 12 ยฐC

    Heute machen wir unser Frühstück selber und schmieren 2 Sandwiche für das Mittags-Picknick. Mit Châtillon liegt heute ein weiter Weg mit einigen Höhenmeter die zu überwinden sind vor uns.
    Beim Start regnet es noch leicht, aber nicht sehr lange. Es bleibt bewölkt, wenn es so bleibt ist das für die lange Strecke von Vorteil. Wir laufen auf der talauswärtigen, linken Hangflanke entlang auf schönen Wanderwegen, Schotter- und kleinen asphaltierten Strässchen. Wir passieren einige kleine Dörfer die über dem Tal liegen welche aber nur teilweise bewohnt sind. Es gibt viele leerstehende Häuser und Halbruinen. Was auffällt, dass praktisch alle Häuser mit schweren Granitplatten eingedeckt sind. Immer wieder sieht man kleine Schlösser und Wehrtürme verstreut in der Landschaft. Die Wiesen sind farbenprächtig, wie wir sie bei uns bald eher selten finden. Auch auf steinigen Böden befindent sich eine Blumenpracht. 
    Heute treffen wir auf dem Via Francigena erstmals andere Pilgerer, der Amerikaner Henry und einen Deutschen Thomas, kurze Gespräche ergeben sich immer wieder wenn wir sie einholen oder sie uns.
    Nach langer Zeit finden wir in Chambave eine Bar wo wir einen Espresso trinken können. Der Pfarrer steht auch an der Bar um kurz einen Espresso zu trinken. Anschliessend besichtigen wir die Kirche wo wir den Pfarrer bei einer Beerdigungsvorbereitung wieder treffen. Er erkennt er uns als Pilgerer, hat seine Freude und wünschr uns eine gute Weiterreise.
    Übrigens der Espresso kostete 1.10 Euro.
    Auf dem Weg der nun folgt werden wir nicht vom einsetztenden Regen nass, sondern vom hüfthohen Gras das den Weg überwuchert. Das Wasser läuft vom Gras abgestreifft über die Hosen und Beine in die Schuhe, sodass diese innert kürze randvoll sind und es nur noch mantscht.
    Endlich sind wir in Châtillon um festzustellen, dass das Städtchen dem Namen nicht entspricht. Also sehen wir uns noch die Kirche an, suchen den Pilgerstempel in der Verwaltung und gehen zu unserem Hotel das etwas ausserhalb liegt.
    Ales erstes geht es ran ans Schuhetrocknen mit dem Hotelföhn.
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  • Day 19

    ืžืื˜ืจื”ื•ืจืŸ

    September 22, 2024 in Italy โ‹… โ˜๏ธ -2 ยฐC

    ื”ืจ ื”ืžื˜ืจื”ื•ืจืŸ ื”ื•ื ืื—ื“ ื”ื”ืจื™ื ื”ื™ื•ืชืจ ืžื–ื•ื”ื™ื ื‘ืขื•ืœื ืœื ื™ื•ื“ืข ืื ื›ื•ืœื ื™ื•ื“ื™ื ืื•ืชื™ ื‘ืฉื ืื‘ืœ ื”ื•ื ื”ื”ืจ ืฉื ื™ืžืฆื ืขืœ ื”ื˜ื•ื‘ืœืจื•ืŸ, ืžืขื™ืŸ ืกืžืœ ืฉืœ ืฉื•ื•ื™ืฅ. ืื™ืŸ ืžื” ืœื•ืžืจ ืžื“ื•ื‘ืจ ืขืœ ื”ืจ ืžืื•ื“ ืžืื•ื“ ื™ืคื” ืจืง ืœื”ืกืชื›ืœ ืขืœื™ื• ื ื•ืชืŸ ืกื™ืคื•ืง ืื“ื™ืจ.
    ืื ื—ื ื• ืื‘ืœ ืœื ืจืง ื”ืกืชื›ืœื ื• ืื ื—ื ื• ื’ื ื˜ื™ืคืกื ื• ืœืžืขืœื”. ื‘ื™ื•ืžื™ื™ื ื”ื™ื•ื ื”ืจืืฉื•ืŸ ื”ื™ื” ืœื”ื’ื™ืข ืœื‘ืงืชื” ื‘ื’ื•ื‘ื” 3200 ื”ื’ืขื ื• ืžื•ืงื“ื ื•ื”ื“ืจืš ื”ื™ื™ืชื” ืคืฉื•ื˜ื” ื”ื™ื” ืœื ื• ืžืœื ื–ืžืŸ ืœื ื•ื— ืœืคื ื™ ื”ื˜ื™ืคื•ืก. ื”ื‘ืงืชื” ืกื’ื•ืจื” ื›ื‘ืจ ื‘ืขื•ื ื” ื”ื–ื• (ื ืกื’ืจ ืžืžืฉ ืœืคื ื™ ื™ื•ืžื™ื™ื) ืื‘ืœ ื™ืฉ ื—ื“ืจ ื—ื•ืจืฃ ืฉืื ื™ ื“ืžื™ื™ื ืชื™ ื—ื“ืจ ืžืขืคืŸ ืขื ืขืจืžืช ืžื–ืจื•ื ื™ื ื•ืชืกืชื“ืจ ืื‘ืœ ื”ื™ื” ืฉื ื—ื“ืจ ืžืกื•ื“ืจ ื•ื™ืคื” ื”ืจื‘ื” ื™ื•ืชืจ ืžื”ืžืฆื•ืคื”. ืื›ืœื ื• ืžืจืง ื•ื”ืœื›ื ื• ืœื™ืฉื•ืŸ. ืงืžื ื• ืœืžื—ืจืช ื‘03.00 ื›ื“ื™ ืœื”ืชืืจื’ืŸ ื•ืœื”ืชื—ื™ืœ ืืช ื”ื˜ื™ืคื•ืก ื™ืฆืื ื• ืœื“ืจืš ืกื‘ื™ื‘ 04.00 ื”ื™ื” ืžืืชื’ืจ ืœืžืฆื•ื ืืช ื”ื“ืจืš ื”ื ื›ื•ื ื” ืื– ื–ื–ื ื• ื“ื™ ืœืื˜ ื”ื™ื” ืฉืœื‘ ืฉื”ืกืชื›ืœื ื• ืœืžืขืœื” ื•ืืžืจื ื• ืฉื–ื” ื™ื”ื™ื” ื™ื•ืชืจ ืžื™ื“ื™ ื–ืžืŸ ื•ืื ื—ื ื• ืฆืจื™ื›ื™ื ืœื”ืชื—ืฉื‘ ื‘ื–ื” ื•ืฉืฆืจื™ืš ืœื”ืกืชื•ื‘ื‘ ืขื“ ืฉื”ื’ื™ืข ืžื“ืจื™ืš ืžืื—ื•ืจื™ื ื• ื•ืืžืจ ืฉื–ื” ื™ืงื— ืœื ื• ืฉืขื”, ืœืงื— ืฉืขื” ื•ื—ืฆื™ ืื‘ืœ ืื ื™ ืฉืžื— ืžืื•ื“ ืฉืœื ื”ืกืชื•ื‘ื‘ื ื•. ื”ื’ืขื ื• ืœืคืกื’ื” ืœืงืจืืช 11.00 ื ื•ืฃ ืžืฉื’ืข ื–ื›ื™ื ื• ื‘ืžื–ื’ ืื•ื•ื™ืจ ืžืขื•ืœื”, ืื‘ืœ ืฉื ืœื ื ื™ื’ืžืจ ื”ื—ื•ื•ื™ื” ืขื“ื™ื™ืŸ ื ื™ืฉืืจ ืœื ื• ืœืจื“ืช ื•ื”ื™ืจื™ื“ื” ื™ื•ืชืจ ืžืืชื’ืจืช ืžื”ืขืœื™ื” ื”ื’ืขื ื• ืœืžื˜ื” ืœื‘ืงืชื” ื‘ืื™ื–ื•ืจ 19.00 ื•ื”ืจื›ื‘ืช ื”ืื—ืจื•ื ื” ื—ื–ืจื” ืœืกืืก-ืคื™ื™ ื”ื™ื” ื‘23.00 ื ื—ื•ืฉื™ื ืœื”ื’ื™ืข ืืœื™ื” ื›ื“ื™ ืœืœื›ืช ืœื™ืฉื•ืŸ ืื—ืจื™ ืžืงืœื—ืช ืืจื–ื ื• ืืช ื”ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื•ืจืฆื ื• ืœืžื˜ื”, 11ืงื ืฉืœ 1600 ืžื˜ืจ ื™ื“ื™ืจื” ื‘ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื”ืชื’ืœื’ืœื ื• ืœืžื˜ื” ืื‘ืœ ื”ื’ืขื ื• ื•ื”ืฆืœื—ื ื• ืœื”ื’ื™ืข ืœืกืืก-ืคื™ื™ ื—ื–ืจื” ืœื‘ื™ืช ืฉืœื ื• ื”ื™ื•ื ื ื’ืžืจ ื‘ืฉืขื” ื‘00.45 ืขื™ื™ืคื™ื ื’ืžื•ืจื™ื ืืคื™ืœื• ืื‘ืœ ืžืื•ื“ ืžืจื•ืฆื™ื
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  • Day 9

    Breuil-Cervina

    September 2, 2024 in Italy โ‹… โ›… 48 ยฐF

    Set an alarm to be at the gondola at 7:30. Cool but clear morning with clouds to be moving in later. Gorgeous views up three separate gondolas where we crossed into Switzerland! We met two Austrian Snowboard team members on our gondola and had so much fun with them! We will be rooting for them to make the Austrian Olympic team-Tanja and Anna! Every person on the gondola was headed up to ski, snowboard or parachute ski—and lots were young kids! The clouds did indeed roll in so we headed down to the first landing station and went for a 7 mile hike around a lake and down to the village. On the way we ran into a massive herd of chamois, and had the big male bark/growl a warning our way. So amazing! It rained a bit on us but the hike was still fun. At one point we heard what at first we thought was thunder and then realized it was a glacier calving/or a cavalanche—JDs new word. Our room is right on a golf course, so we had to check into that:) Down from the mountain at 12 and teed off for a round of 18 at 1. Had a really fun and challenging round of golf and we were both exhausted after. Back to our place to have cheese, focaccia, and a beer and FaceTime with Burkey to hear all about his birthday party! Headed to Val Tournenche for a fabulous pizza dinner at Big Ben’s a locally owned restaurant filled with all the pride that entails. It’s 9:24 and we are ready to sleep!Read more

  • Day 39

    Stage 58: Verrรจs

    August 12, 2024 in Italy โ‹… โ›… 66 ยฐF

    It was very important to us to avoid a repeat of yesterday. We left at 4H45 and decided NOT to follow the VF track out of town. We lopped off the difficult section leading up and out of town, electing to instead follow the main street out through the suburbs. We weren’t disappointed at all about missing out on that first section because we needed an easier day today. It is HOT here! Also, our walk was fun and we got to see more of Italian life.

    We reconnected with the VF in Vagnod and walked it the rest of the way. The little villages are, as always, a delight.
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