A virtual Boxing Day Walk

Due to heavy snow we were unable to reach the local ski slopes for our traditional Boxing Day walk, and considering that the fourth member of the band was in England, (grandma) I thought it might be nice to meet up here virtually all the same.

Ventasso ski slopes








Three generations.













Lake Calamone













Playing silly b--------s!












Happy New Year!

A night time stroll

NO snow but a decisive nip in the air as we returned to Bazzano to visit the cribs. 88 houses in the village have set up a nativity scene in their garden. We only managed to see half but had great fun tracking down the little lights. Some were very imaginative, like this one winding its way up a tree trunk.

This one carved out of a Parmesan cheese by the

local dairy.

Spot a couple of extras in this life size one!

A sweet one in a demijohn.

Happy Christmas to ALL my readers ???!!!

Sue XXX

Meandering in Merano

Lots of lovely snow, by day.........

....and by night.

The reason. (thanks for cake GP)

The Band !

Mad on Mittens

The weather's gone wild...

From this

To this

So I haven't been walking...

I've been making mittens!

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas....

But these drivers probably aren't!

I wasn't the only one walking in the Apennines this morning.

Rugby in the Apennines/Campotrera

As I'm about to hit 50 very shortly I'm looking out for new experiences!
And this was a double first
-entering a football stadium
-watching a game of Rugby (Italy v Pacific Islanders).
I must say I enjoyed it and worked out team colours and what direction the ball should be moving all on my own.
Mind you Italians seem too clean, chic and cool to wallow in the mud or knock down several pints of triple x . By the way we lost.







After whipping not 1, nor 2 but 3 copies of the freebie DVD handed out at the presntation of the opening of the new Campotrera nature reserve I thought I'd better join in the organised walk. Temperatures were beginning to plummet but I took the oportunity to brush up my geology.
You can learn more on
htp//www.parks.it/riserva.rupe.campotrera/Epar.html

I then decided to visit the tower on my own, it was a bit scary climbing up fortunately I bumped into a couple of lost souls who, as chance would have it, were Brits.

After a bit of a chinwag they drove me home as it had got quite cold and dark.

If you happen to be reading this Mark and whoops can't remember, leave me a comment, I've got some baked beans in the larder.


The photo is dedicated to my darling daughter - she knows why, Love you......

A good time had by all!

Despite rather confused directions from Mario we all met up near San Polo for a Sunday lunch. Highly recommended traditional menu: porky scratchings, gnocco, which we all decided was untranslateable but very moreish, cured meats, walnut, curd cheese and beet tortelli, roast pork and selection of homemade cakes, all washed down with Lambrusco and walnut liqueur, at a very reasonable price.







Where's Carlo?












Have done my homework as promised.
Pieve di San Polo/Caviliano/Caviano

Check out La Pieve di Caviliano on google immagine. It's on http://www.itgsecchi.it/for full description in ITALIAN complete with music. (enter archivio, poi pellegrini poi presentazione poi indici poi pieve....)

Whilst Giorgio and other keen English students might prefer the English verion at

http://www.municipio.re.it/IAT/iatre.nsf/pagine/83BB801650A0191AC1256CB500323B76?OpenDocument&lng=engf






An evocative shot of Giorgio walking off all that salami!



Thanks for organising it all Francesca.
A presto Susan!!!!!