Sunday 1 September 2024

An Unplanned Adventure in Val Gardena

Our last love heart photo together in the Dolomites!

Today was the day we went off script, away from the carefully crafted hiking plan that Luca had put together for us. We utilised as many modes of transport as we could that didn't involve using our legs. The first hike that went by the wayside were trails 32 and 4, the ones that took us from Selva to Ortisei. Instead we ambled to the very close bus stop and hopped on bus 352, enjoying the scenery! We found the Resciesa Funicular Station which then whizzed us up the mountain. From there it was more ambling towards Rifugioi Resciesa where we enjoyed the panorama in front us, inspiring us of all things to record a dance video with our purple sunnies. Never mind the stream of hikers and cyclists that went past probably wondering if the people in front of them were ill in some way. If you have Tiktok here's the link...https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS2AfYtr1/

Our breakfast buffet today

Luca would be appalled...catching the bus not hiking!

Picturesque Ortisei

We briefly stopped at the sound of a brass band and was greeted with this sight. It was a little strange hearing the priests speak in Italian but seeing German outfits

Leaving Ortisei behind

Ah...what a spectacular view without working the legs!

We got to the top in no time

A nice level walk towards Rifugio Resciesa

Chiesetta Santa Croce

We rested from our efforts with delicious home made apple juice and buckwheat cake before ditching our next hike, trail 10, that would have taken us back down to Ortisei. We enjoyed our funicular ride up so much we decided that it would be best to repeat the experience going down. After all, we were only here once. Unfortunately, our plan for shopping had to be abandoned because most of the shops seemed to have closed for siesta of sorts. So after grabbing a simple lunch we decided to go back to Selva. Even that plan didn't go to plan...we caught the wrong bus heading in completely the wrong direction. And as you when you are in the middle of nowhere waiting for the correct bus, you record another dance video. 

When the correct bus came, it had an unplanned breakdown as soon as we got on the bus. Fortunately though, whatever the problem was corrected itself within 10 minutes or so and we went on our merry way. We must have been delirious from exhaustion as we didn't even get off at the right bus stop, overshooting our hotel and having to walk back. 

We cherished our last spa time, as well as our last dinner together as a foursome. The time had come for us to go our separate ways. The Yoongs would be heading back towards Milan to meet up with family while Lara and I continue on to Alpe di Siusi for some real R&R. The days of the purple sunnies are over but what fun we had! A big thank you to the Yoongs for a fabulous week together. 

Our 0.5 shot of our morning tea

Our beloved funicular

Back to Ortisei

We got a meat and cheese board from here

Buffulo cheese in the front, then deer, speck both raw and cooked. The ones to the back were a bit unclear. The waiter spoke very fast!

Wrong bus...better get off and figure out how to get home

We were in the middle of nowhere. In retrospect it may have been wiser to get off the bus in a village rather than a random bus stop

Thank you Yoongs for being so much fun to travel with!





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