The train (via Innsbruck) to Northern Italy

The train (via Innsbruck) to Northern Italy
The train ride is long and lovely, as was Berlin to Prague (limestone cliffs along a river I

would like to return to cycle in). We are in a long (over 10 minutes), dark tunnel going

down a mountain. We are happy with our choice to travel by train, see the countryside and be

lower impact. We’ll pass on the tunnel going back though!
Bolzano
Upscaling at the Sheraton was fun—swimming, hot tubbing, large Italian-German buffet

breakfast. Now we are off to Ortesei which Hersh fondly remembers from 33 years ago.
Ortesei
After a decidedly unimpressive start in Ortesei, I suspect it will be our trip highlight in

the end (with the exception of seeing Savannah and others in Berlin. We had a first wet,

cold afternoon in a uninviting B and B. We made the best of it, enjoying the local pool and

figuring out the local customs that went with swimming here (shoes, bathing caps, co-ed

locker rooms, outdoor swirly pool and cool Jacuzzi). The clouds parted, we had a lovely

Italian meal and we planned our move to another hotel.
And what a hotel it was! Glorious indulgence, ten out of ten food, service, and totally

relaxing. After hiking in the beautiful, breathtaking Dolomites (a World Unesco park), we

returned to the pool and three part saunas, complete with aromatherapy water spray, various

reviving showers and fresh lemonade. Dinner followed later after Tyrolean appetizers and

accordion music one night. The food, was as Sierra described, the best she has ever eaten.

Hersh and I concurred. Last night we had the salad buffet, roasted vegetable terrine,

Gnocchi and eggplant ravioli with tomatoes, vegetable cheese risotto and amaretto mouse

pyramid cake. Hersh added in a beef dish. The night before (after appies) we had salad,

celery rot soup, tricolor pasta in parmesean sauce (we barely ate this as we were already

stuffed), Hersh has trout and Sierra and I had roasted vegetables with grilled cheese,

topped off with homemade ice cream and the one of the best chocolate cakes ever. We have our

own personal server…Hotel Grones in the Dolomites is a treat we would and will repeat.