Sept 1- 13 :- Dolomite Alta Via 1 full circuit (snow , rain, sun) (trains , bus )
80 /85 some miles or more ...
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Well its been third visit to Italy, first time being typical
touristic touch nd go long back, later second was trek solo: climbing
Stromboli, Etna etc. and this time trekking Dolomites. Yes and how can it be skipped a part of italy when did tour du mont blanc trek (so actually 4 times ). Had heard a lot
about it and would have happened last year itself or early this year solo , did do Ireland solo. The Journey to
starting point Dobbiaco was really great with train ride being very
pleasant and comfortable. Original train was cancelled due some track issues, so had another & met cool lady with two daughters ( she does dubbing ) ,transferred to bus through slovenia, then another train through austria and finally destination. One lady was going to do same trek with her church group, am sure she had great time. Coming from Bombay now Mumbai probably train journey is the most missing part for all those who have experienced it. One even
tends to form daily travel groups and all things which later come with
it. Even after being with zillions of people one can still be oneself
amidst the crowds or even part, so is true everywhere else... n'ways
Yes and not to forget the awesome lady who helped while waiting for taxi at the station.
Reached
the hotel later in the evening and yes, there came rain :) Meeting
group members and sharing each others get to know intros...Everyone
including myself, people are little hesitant or better word would be
reluctant to open all their cards on the first day, ( have noticed in
all trips )
Very nice small group of individuals ( would call it a cozy group) with plenty accomplishments of their own.
Next day was the start of some 12 days of
Dolomites full circuit, with nice stays at all huts with real
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beautiful
settings and non-expected amenities for the places they are at. The real hardy food, kind of expected for hikers was really nice at some of the refuges and they were very accomodative of any special requests. Since many
individuals would hike on same trails, it was but obvious to catch up
with them at the end of the day, sometimes at the same refuges sharing tables. Lucky to
watch sunrises from the bed (and to all those who were there watching them too from where ever), starry nights, snow.
Got to
experience all kinds of weather ( that seems like the theme song for most treks) rain, snow, sun and seems like this is
the year I am using my rain gear to the fullest :) . Ignored all this while, I was using gaiters last winter for my rain pants as they are pretty short , but too bad have to replace them.
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Did carry
poles , but apart from opening them 3 times ( just because was carrying
them in hands all the time) glad never needed to use them as such and
was fine even after doing things before trek (Croatia 50 or more miles) and after the trek too (2 days venice lots leg work). So
something I did / am doing is working fine ( that's just the reminder to
myself). The real terrain, passes , distances ,elevations all can be
found anywhere. The geography, various mountains (civetta, moiazza,
pelmo etc) and plenty stories to accompany (Italian
troops/ Austrian ), our guide did nice job doing that and we did our part
of harassing ( not really , just joking) , forgetting and plenty other
things , testing one's patience :) haha :) What things can tick an individual off.... Naaaaaaaa ... just kidding. May be he has different story to tell abt .what we did :) :)
Some individuals walk along or stop ( simply hear / simply listen) and some don't but they still listen. Everyone pays attention to things in different style. But brush it off vs processing (hearing /listening) are two different things.
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Will U be U when U know someone is trying to cross check everything they know / heard about you.. As U probably knew they are doing that.
-- U will for sure, if all this while U were not faking anything.
Reluctantly (with all that has been done to me and got sick of telling individuals things) I had not invested at all in things to do around here, just went / just came back. Would have otherwise done "via ferrata" or some other whatever.
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Insta 1 update:
Insta2 Update:
This is the last trip for my camera, it gave up in the middle also, cell did kinda ok job
Click here for Pics from my camera / cell
Would have liked to do something else in connection solo or long before but as with all as always .... n'ways its pointless iterating same thing over and again ...
Spent last two days in Venice. Had been to Venice before. In the first visit to Italy got to experience the floods in st. mark square and the Adriatic ocean in its glory. Very short touch down visit. Trust me Venice looks the most beautiful in light drizzle and had been in Gondola ride that time.
This time it was different experience for two days, in the sense train ride to Venice followed by bus then boat and then walk to hotel, post trek with all the luggage. Besides I had my own some things to handle for last one and half day of trek.
Yes, leg work was major part of it while exploring various alleys, different locations, watching kids football etc.
First time to these islands : - visit to Murano ( glass blowing factory & things made dolphins / horses) , Burano (visited twice, second time being regatta for keep the lagoons clean, had to leave early as the thing started kind of late and was happy to meet Swedish lady on the peer, she has been to India many times) the fishing village is very colorful with famous bakery and chance encounter with two senior ladies in front their apartments was great, watching the sun spots through the telescope set up by an individual was a treat in Burano,
Lido, just walked up to the beach in afternoon & otherwise seemed like its a real fancy place.
Amongst castle, museums, churches and things, one with hands on museum for ( Leonardo's contribution to technology ) was really neat.
Small bookshops, mask making shops, art / jewellery galleries, wooden toys shop, there was one real weird place came across while venturing out in small alleys (place that screams don't go here).
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While walking came across some music show and went for it, it was real amazing (later to discover it was one of the best shows to be seen)
Watching sunset from vaporetto and golden moonrise over lagoon was thing to remember.
The golden moonrise with wind blowing en-route airport was so gorgeous, one could have just hunkered down boat and lied in it watching & listening to favorite music. Never to forget the magic that it spilled over the lagoons.
What could have been different ( the timing to visit some of the places to get the best out of that place could have been managed better, than too much indecisiveness & just going back and forth on same streets or avoiding somethings for no reason) and seriously post trek it becomes kind of empty walk as u are used to be with set of individuals for number of days, it would have been nice to have their company here too. Did meet some trekkers while exploring around but still not the same.
Post all this got back on Monday haha nice to see plenty "welcome backs' at the airport, the only question asked was "where have u been this time, then just go.... I myself started laughing post seeing the reactions on the kind of luggage I had lifted, I mean I am used to it but not the viewers (seems like). "Thanks though.
I got Back Mon 16 afternoon , loads of cleanup, Week gym stuff
