Madonna di Campiglio

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The eggs in Italy are amazing. Whenever we have purchased eggs, butter, milk, fresh verdura and frutta we have enjoyed them immensely. The colours and flavours are fantastic. This morning's breakfast was no exception. Even the apricot jam had a taste that we hadn't experienced before.

After breakfast, the ragazzi went out for a play and Emily met a new friend, Francesca, in the playground. Then, we jumped in the car and took a drive through the valley, visting Tione, Pinzolo and, finally, Madonna di Campiglio. What an incredible drive, the views are simply spectacular. Madonna di Campiglio is a village and the number 1 ski resort in Italy. At over 1,500 metres above sea level, it has 57 lifts and 150 kilometers of skiing runs up to 2,600 metres above sea level.

The ski season is now over and there were few people around but it meant we could drive casually up the mountain and stop for photographs of the most amazing views of the snow-capped Dolomites.

Madonna di Campiglio is a steep, but short drive from the commune of Pinzolo, which is only a short distance from Massimeno. I know we have used the words amazing, incredible and spectacular but you really have to see this to believe it. You have to convince yourself that the Dolomites are real and not some kind of illusion you are looking at.

The World Heritage Organisation has classified the Dolomites and they are recognised as one of the most beautiful mountain landscape in the world. Sue and Damian are definitely coming back here sometime in a ski season.

In the afternoon, Nicholas and Damian went for a walk up and down the mountain at Massimeno (there is not much terrain that is flat here) and also ventured down the hill to Giustino for some cash from the Bancomat and some grocery shopping.

Concetta drops in every so often to make sure we are ok. She is a lovely lady and, at 83, looks incredibly good.

Then it was off to visit one of Damian's father's friends, Dino Fasoli. Unfortunately he was not home but his wife Franca greeted us and we shared a glass of red while we waited for Dino. He turned up later, at our apartment, and entertained us for a good half an hour - he also did Damian a favour by limiting the amount of dialect he used, so the conversation went fairly smoothly.

Dino invited Nicholas over to his place to watch AC Milan after Nick showed him his football jerseys. It'll be a bit too late for Nick to watch, but we'll enjoy his company again tomorrow night as Franca graciously offered to cook us polenta for dinner. If the rain holds off tommorow, he wants to take us for a drive in his jeep up the mountain. He's reserving the front seat for Sue. Damian and the ragazzi have to pile into the back. Should be interesting.

Dinner was cooked and we enjoyed a bottle of red from the Trentino region, a Marzemino from Cantina D'Isera. After dinner, Enrico dropped in with his wife, Monica, and we had a good chat about all of the Beltrami's from Australia that have visited Massimeno over the years.

Also, Nick has now lost two teeth in the space of two days in Massimeno. One came out while eating and Damian ripped out the other one today.

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