Hiking in Valsassina: Maddie the Alpine westie?

If you look closely in the background to the left of Maddie, you'll see a rock formation with what appears to be a hole in the center. This is the Porta di Prada, the door of Prada even if it doesn't have anything to do with the elite label in italian fashion. This beautiful work of nature and many a lofty view is what makes the trek to Rifugio Bietti (and others further on) a popular itinerary for outdoor enthusiasts like us. The panorama is absolutely breathtaking at the height of 1719+ meters (5586+ feet), and although those figures may seem daunting to the unmotivated, the easy trail is acceptable for all ages and begins from an altitude of around 4715 feet. If I had to name one excursion for anyone planning a hiking vacation in the northern lakes region, this one is it. At a mere 3-3½ hours roundtrip, it's a piece of cake.

We completed this hike last Sunday after a month off due to Sicily & elsewhere and let me tell you, my body hurt like HECK the next morning. Feel the burn baby! So good to be back in contact with nature and we 3 plan on getting out more, weather permitting. For readers new or unfamiliar with any of my hiking posts, I can't say enough on how fantastic of an area Como/Lecco is in regards to the amount of itineraries. Couple that with a sagra or two and you're in for a memorable experience in this part of Italy.

Porta di Prada - taken in the morning coming from the starting end of the trail...

and on the way back in the afternoon.

A tour of Lake Garda's western shores

If Quantum of Solace had chosen to film elsewhere, I might've never made the effort to visit Lake Garda. Two days and two nights only allowed us to scratch the surface, not nearly enough time to explore the high mountains with the dogs, or check out all of the Slow Food restaurants in this part of the region. Next time it'll have to be 5 days minimun - at least to find the very spot where that photo above was taken! All of the towns along Lake Garda's western shores are very touristic, appealing greatly to german and dutch visitors. We chose to stay in Gargnano mainly because I was able to find a reasonably-priced hotel that allowed small pets, but also for the fact that Benito Mussolini (Italy's last dictator) spent his final days at Villa Feltrinelli which is located on a private stretch of beach in Gargnano. The luxury hotel is an historical building which has been restored with truly impeccable taste (you have to see the website) commanding upwards of 6265+...

Medieval castles but not a knight in sight

Counting castles...what we need now is a lively jousting event and fair maidens. Valle d'Aosta is the land of castelli (castles), and spotting them is almost like engaging in a game of punch bug. I felt that it wouldn't be right to leave out such historical detail, but the sharp contrasts...you'll see what I mean in the photos. Now I don't know if it's due to Walt setting the standard on what a castle should look like, but through the dozen or so times that I've been here, not once did I make any real effort to appreciate these medieval landmarks that have withstood the test of time - save one. That would be the Castle of Sarre (3rd image), where we had our wedding photos taken. I believe that most castles are open to the public, and further info can be found here at Valle d'Aosta Castles . The Disney ish -looking one is Castle Saint Pierre (at right). It's a small world after all. Parking sign [P] and picnic tables (not shown) in front of Cast...

A Campari moment

So...the lawn is done. The shower (and a double-sized one at that) scrubbed down. The floors mopped. The "kids" bathed, dried, and nails clipped. The monstrous old fennel cut down and ready to cart away. The kumquat fertilized, dinner done (oxtail soup), and the terrace swept for the 10th time because the "kids" think it's perfectly okay to leave the chestnut peels after devouring those that fall in the yard. The best part? Having my lardo d'Arnad photo featured in an italian restaurant and hospitality magazine, Italia A Tavola . I'm pretty stoked, and was sent a pdf copy of which I've snipped a part here.

Rubber Slippers In Italy

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