The Hills Were Alive….

With the sound of.... cow bells! And what a melodious sound it was. Today we drove for two hours on the autostrada to arrive at Bolzano, a pretty spot in the South Tyrol province of N. Italy. There we caught the cable car that climbed Mt. Ritten to a breathtaking view from the Renon High Plateau. Only 12 minutes in transit and we stepped into a village straight out of a storybook - quaint, bursting with hibiscus, fuschia and trailing geraniums and surrounded by verdant pastures filled with happy cows, hiking trails and signage plus many inviting hostels and hotels.

Forgive the reflection from the cable car windows, and I hope it doesn't detract from the beauty of the vista below. It was gobsmacking. We enjoyed a nice wander around the village before selecting a hiking trail named "The Pyramids", purportedly a half hour walk. Unfortunately I was pretty unprepared, not knowing we were going to trek, and I wore my Teva sandals which do not have enough safe purchase to make me feel confident on very rocky, steep downhill slopes. Around the halfway mark Dave went off on his own and I had a lovely half an hour seated regally on a bench in a pine-scented forest until he returned, breathless and sweaty. I have new respect for the alpine classification of hikes - they are not for sissies. And there will be both a hiking pole and good hiking shoes on my next venture. Still, it was an unforgettable day and once we rode the cable car back down, we had a quick wander around Bolzano before finding the Fiat and launching ourselves on the autostrada for another thrilling ride home. It will be an early night tonight, after enjoying a platter of the roasted veggies we made last night. There are murmurings of a train to Bologna tomorrow and considering it is supposed to be a foodie's paradise, I can hardly wait.