MyMeSsYBloG

AbetONE

AbetONE is number ONE appenninis ski resort. It is the most famous place for skiing in Tuscany. Given the short distance from Florence it is ideal  for a day trip; and this is what we (Tommaso, Alberto and me) did today...! Rendez vous at 7.30 at mine, a stop for a quick espresso and off we set by 8 o'clock. Less than two hours later we were already going downhill for the first slope! That was the first ski day for me in the last two years, and only the second since March 2008, when I went to Val Thorens, France, with a group of friends. I was a bit concerned about that since it was the first time ever I have been far from my skies for such a long time...! Nevertheless all the concerns faded away almost instantaneously, as I quickly got back the feeling with my RC4 and with the snow running underneath. I struggled a bit of the ice at first approach...but soon everything was better. i never particulary loved ice. I bet few people do.

I think skiing is a bit like walking, once you learn it you'll always remember it...! It does not take too much to go back to an acceptable standard...! Then of course the more you practice the better you become...and I wish I could practice more......!  

Weather wise it was one of these days just made for skiing...sunny, but cold...really cold, synonymous of a bit of pain on the lifts and lots of fun on the slopes with the snow in perfect condition the entire day long. 

At the end of the day, I have to admit, my legs where quite stiff, and I felt quite tired. A hot choccolate with wiped cream helped to get a bit of energy back. The dusk begun to fall...Abetone was getting dark...it's time to go home. With a smile on the face!

 

   
(indeed we do!)  

...aspra nella virtu', dolce nel sacrificio...

...poi Dio creo’ la bicicletta

perche’ l’uomo ne facesse 

strumento di fatica e di esaltazione 

nell’arduo itinerario della vita.

Su questo colle 

essa e’ diventata monumento 

all’epopea sportiva

della nostra gente

che sempre e’ stata

aspra nella virtu’

dolce nel sacrificio.

Santuario della Madonna del Ghisallo, patrona e protettrice dei ciclisti

(fianco a fianco...come sempre!)

   

 

“Quel ramo del lago di Como...”

“...che volge a mezzodi’...”. Everybody (at least every italian reader) knows this passage of one of the greatest italian novel, The Betrothed (I Promessi Sposi) from A. Manzoni. Now I  wasn’t exactly sure which one was the branch he was talking about but surely when you are in Bellagio you are gonna see the right one.

I have actually been to Bellagio in the past; in Las Vegas. However that was not the real Bellagio, but the fake one...it is an Hotel actually, very cool to be honest with an awesome fountain in the “Como” lake in front of the hotel.

The real Bellagio is a little cute town built exactly where the lake splits in its two branches. It is very picturesque. Colorful building built over narrows mews, little streets heading down towards the lake, decorated balconies, sharp roofs, coy shops. The lakefront is very pretty too, all decorated with flowers and trees and with lots of restaurant on the bank that offer a great view on the lake and on the surrounding Alps. Highly recommended.

 

          

    

    

 ( this is a panoramic point I found driving randomly around the mountains...you need to park the car and walk a bit in the forrest, until the view opens... )

  

(I though it was nice to finish this way:)