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Published: September 8th 2015
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The rather awful depiction of Christs crucifixion carved in wood
This cross stands on a high peak visible from many vantage points and valleys if you knew where to look. It is very realistic and does depict the awfulness of this type of death and torture We have a consecutive 3 day pass on the seilbahns (cable ways) and figure we had better make use of it over the 3 days. This morning we got the funicular from Ortisei to Resciesa which is almost directly behind the apartment. At 10am it is very popular and is running pretty most continuously to keep up with the numbers of people ascending. We took the loop track to the west which circles a broad sloping grass and alpine plant area going up to 2300m. On the western end of the ridge is a tiny chapel followed by a climb up to a large wooden cross of Christ's crucifixion. The region is know for it's wood carving and this is a huge realistic carving of Christ hanging on the cross in a most sobering fashion. Not nice. However, the view from here is outstanding extending over to Brunico and the valley that runs through to Dobbiaco and into Austria. The Alps far to the West look like they are as far away as France but are probably still in Alpine Italy. Certainly you would see the Alps of the Swiss Engadine from here. To the East are the continuous high mountains
of the Dolomites.
It has been a gorgeous day and once again we were able to lie on the grassy slopes to a picnic lunch and soak up the sun that doesn't burn here like it does in NZ.
We went back down by funicular again and over the the Seceda gondola which also starts near the the apartment. This cable way ascends up the beautiful Val d'Anna where grass is being cut for hay and small farms nestle amongst the pine trees. At Furnes at the head of the valley it swaps to a large cable car to go straight up the cliff to Seceda. It has some great geology along the way with morains, erosion screes off the cliffs, then stratified layers of rock to the top. We thought we had already had some of the best views of the Dolomites but this one tops them all. The steep sided valley tops at 2500m and then dips out into a broad valley running all the way back down into St Cristina. Nearby are soaring vertical peaks up to 3000m in every direction. It is a stunning sight. Everywhere you looks there are walking tracks either through
Relaxing on loungers near Seceda cable station
We thought it an odd place for loungers but I couldn't think of a better place to do it. It was warm and the views stunning. the valleys, across pastures or up over passes between mountains. There is a choice for everyone, either long or short hikes, or hard long hikes over passes and around mountains. We took the easy choice here today due to time constraints and opted for a restaurant down the hill where we had raspberry cake and radler (him) and apple strudel with vanilla sauce and coffee (me). Amazingly, nearby, people were lying back on loungers in the sun having a beer. You might expect this on a beach but not at 2500m. A superb location and we may get a chance to return later in the week.
Back in town from the gondola we found that there was a tunnel with escalator tracks to get back to the town. I have never seen this in a town before, only in airports. There were the flat escalators that you walk along and several going down levels. We are very impressed with Ortisei and the facilities they have for tourists.
Another satisfying day in the Val Gardena
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