Blogs from Trentino Alto Adige, Italy, Europe - page 15

As one of our last trips on this trip, Amanda and I drove to Bolzano, an independent province close to the Italian/ Austrian border. Mapquest said it'd take just under three hours but in reality it took close to four--a combination of the inevitable heavy traffic on the autostrada and getting lost in circles of one-way streets and dead ends once we got to Bolzano. This time, after our accommodations in Rome, we decided to dig deep and get a hotel room right in the main square, Piazza Walther, or Waltherplatz, depending whichever language you speak. The room was clean and bright, there was a shower curtain--no, doors!--and we were happy. Now, Austrian-Germans and Italians share the same soil, but the German language/ culture dominates the region. It's the first language on the menus, shopkeepers say ... read more

God thought with his sense of humor, "and it shall be... that on Thursday morning, Joni shall wake up and make plans to go to an unknown country where she doesnt know the language... HA! this should be funny..." and reinforced this by making England rainy and cold, making Joni cranky for lack of rock climbing. and so it was, that on Thursday, I woke up and said, "Hey! I'm going to go to Italy!" I started in Milan, and couchsurfed with two Bulgarian girls. They were also hosting an Ozzie, and I was so happy to catch up on my Australian-English. The Australians shorten all their words - because as legend has it - they dont want to open their mouths for fear of too many flies will enter their mouths. Pictures of Kurt are ... read more

So, the hotel that my hosts have arranged for me to stay at is a very nice hotel. It is probably nicer than I would normally stay at when traveling on my own. It is certainly nicer than almost any place I can think of staying when traveling Europe with mom and dad in the past. Having said that, it was close to the train station, it is close to the "campus", and they arranged for a discounted rate (which is probably still close to $100 a night for a single). However, the breakfast buffet is incredible and a nice way to start the morning. On top of that, this place is famous for its "Turkish Spa" In fact, Rick Steves mentioned in one of his travel books that he thought it was worth the expense ... read more

I have a lot of empathy for the Steve Martin character from the movie in the title of this blog. Like his character, I have taken a BUNCH of transportation options today in my effort to get from Moscow to Bolzano-Bozen, Italy. Let’s see. In order they were: Car, plane, bus, bus, plane, bus, bus, train, and a seemingly long hike from the train station with my suitcase on my back. From the time the driver picked me up in Moscow to the time I unpacked in my room in Bolzano was 15 hours. To be fair, unlike Steve Martin’s character, my trip went incredibly smoothly. All of my connections were made, none of my connections were cancelled, there were no language barriers, and I never had to drop an F-bomb laden tirade on some poor ... read more

Well I couldn't believe it either! The Italians named a part of their mountains after a dodgy British car! The Triumph Dolomite. No sooner do I get over that shock than I realise the town I'm in is called Cortina D'Ampezzo!!! I swear I'll find the glass mountains been renamed the Allegro... I finally got to do some climbing today, well only a little climbing, mostly walking. I've hooked up with some bikers. They ride Hogs or Harley Davidsons and they're into all sorts. Climbing is Ted and Georges favourite sport, apart from bedroom gymnastics apparently. I wouldn't have thought the average bedroom was big enough for a set of paralell bars. Mad Andy nearly fell off his seat laughing when George said about the Aerobics, and George then spent the rest of the evening arguing ... read more