Italy…just dropping by

‘OMG…why did I do this to myself!’, while huffing and puffing through the last few kilometres. Note to self, know my own limit. I haven’t cycled this far (90km round trip to Montova from Peschiera del Garda) and not sure why I decided to do it but I’m glad that I did. To get to know this lady, Elisabeth, and to see her smile at the end of the day is well worth it. She is strong in every aspect of her being, from life values to physical capabilities and the openness to experience the adventures that life provides us all. It’s one of those quality moments that I will remember for a very long time.

After a week of stressing to get the flat ready for rent, I was ready to explore Italy and to see if I still have the romantic feeling about the country as I did before. The primary objective of the trip is to try the via ferrata in the Dolomites (mountains! WOOHOO!!!) with a couple of friends, Kevin and George.

Peschiera del Garda was the first destination, using the time to prime my legs for the via ferrata. It was a nice couple of days of fun and chill time before heading to Venice to join the guys and drive up to the mountains. This part of the lake is quieter, provided a peaceful place to enjoy the lake especially in the evening and perfect for watching the sunset with new found friends.

The highlight of the trip will be the via ferrata routes that we did over the three days in the Dolomites. Cortina d’Ampezzo and Arabba did not disappoint and the routes picked by Kevin were great for first timer on via ferrata. The ridges tower high above us and the exposure provided the challenge we need to make this adventure a fun one too. I walked, hiked, climb, fell, bruised and survived…everything ticked for a climbing trip. What more could I asked for?

I would say that if you’re like me, just skip San Marino altogether. After the Dolomites, the place was a bit of a let down and the hostel was below average. The castle on the mountain was such a great idea but the view from there, not so much. I was happy to drive back to Venice early the next day and spent extra time there instead. The Anda Venice Hostel looks like a 4-star hotel from the front and the facilities were amazing.

When the canals were quiet and devoid of tourists, I can still feel its charm and the romance of it all. There were more luxury stores now and of course, being there in the summer made a difference in perspective. I still prefer the autumn/winter ambience that fills Venice with a bit of enchantment. Maybe next time, for a bit of nostalgia. I would love for them to bring back more of the craftsmanship stores though.

Milan was the last destination and it was just way too hot to spend time walking around the city, plus the siren call of the world cup matches was too hard to ignore. The hostel was anticipating this of course and set up two large screens when the group matches were on. The first world cup game I watched was Germany vs South Korea and what a game that was.

On the journey home, the plane was surrounded by cloud pillows that made me feel like I’m on cloud nine. This trip to Italy turned out to be more than I expected. I was looking for the romantic feeling and experience a new type of adventure but on top of that, I came back with a lasting connection with a kindred spirit and the feeling that I’m the most fortunate person in the world (for many reasons). I’m blessed!