Hiked to wonderful small lakes, through enchanted forests, past wood sculptures, pastures full of wildflowers, and through small villages.

Could see a castle in distance on the other side of the ravine…OK let’s go for it.

Walked and walked and finally located this wonderful castle. A young woman who lived in the castle (her father was the caretaker) gave us a personal and informative tour. Then off to the bus stop…just down the road…

Trying to absorb the colors, textures and scents of this magnificent area and la dolce vita – the sweet joy of everyday life.

A leisurely hour hike to this mountain lake provides an invigorating and refreshingly cold swim.

What a back drop!

I'm thinking about it

Hey I’ve swum in colder! The German’s were all swimming so in I went.

Che gioia – what joy!

Been swimming in much colder water than this!

Oppps – I’ll have to fix this photo.

Left the hotel to catch the bus for a hike in the high country and who was strolling  up the street – Dave and Jean. What a wonderful surprise. They had been in Castlerotto 2 days and staying at Hotel Wolf – right down the street from Hotel Cavello. We all did a wonderful hike through lush forests, waterfalls that tumbled forever, castle ruins, and the verdant greens of the upper plateau pastures.

Castelrotto in the valley below

A sense of scale

At times we felt like Hanzel and Gretal tromping through the forest.

Carved wood sculpture on trail

Dave in the saddle again

Stopped for hot chocolate and hazelnut cake up high at a hut – it was cold up there.

Do you think they serve cappucinno?

As soon as the train left Verona heading north the scenery started to change. A wonderful valley – I was thinking this would be a great bike route – with vineyards leading to towering mountains on both sides. As I was hefting my bag onto the train a nice man grabbed the end of the bag and boosted me up. He later joined me in the seat across from mine. Olimpiu, Romanian, a mechanical engineer, who now lives and workes in Italy because he could make more money as a hiking guide in the summer and free skiing guide in the winter then he could as an engineer in Romania. Plus – he prefers hiking and skiing to engineering. He wanted to know if I had a fitness TV show in the US. He thought I looked famous. It must have been those Italian chic pants I was wearing that I picked up in Verona.

 The bus from Bolzano to Castelrotto begin to climb into the mountains immediately. How do these bus drivers maneuver these miniature winding mountain roads? What a skill.

Landed in Castelrotto – a small mountain town of 2000 at 3800ft. Good thing I didn’t send home any of my warm clothes. I’m going to need them here! Am staying at a wonderful hotel in Castelrotto – the Cavalino Hotel, a Rick Steve’s recommendation and a great decision. The hotel is owned by Stephan and Suzanne, gracious and welcoming hosts. I walked in the door and Stephan called out – I know who you are – Gwen – the fitness woman from America. He had checked out my website. I felt like a celebrity – must have been those Italian chic pants I was wearing.

Cavolino Hotel in Castelrotto

 More about Castelrotto later…. First the food at the Cavalino – The 4 course dinner was magnificent – cabbage soup, ravioli funghi, sautéed fish, spinach and potatoes, and chocolate mousse that melted in your mouth (there was also a salad bar which I didn’t even look at because I had no room). I had a glass of wine before dinner in the lounge and then found that you could only order a 1/4 L (2 more glasses) in the dinning room. Oh why not – serve it up.

 Have my hiking route planned for tomorrow – recommendation from Stephan. I’ll need to do some serious hiking with a full breakfast and a four-course meal with wine every evening.

The hotel is delightful and filled with Trioli antiques, quite exquisite, and also has a library, computer for Internet, sauna, and massage available. What more could a women ask for…well maybe a pedicure. My room has a balcone that looks out onto the Dolomites – yes I have been dropped into dolomite dreamland!

Where art thou? Verona – the backdrop for Romeo and Juliet, the city of love, and it’s easy to love Verona. The cobblestone streets, pedestrian only piazzas, marble columns, the arena doting the main Piazza Bra where you can sit on a park bench and watch the evening pastime of the locales – passeggiata – strolling.

Bordered on three sides by Flume Adiage and guarded by Castillo Vecchio the streets are small, quaint, and filled by flower-studded balcones. The many basilicas offer a sheltering reprieve from the sun and the heat with a plethora of frescos, mosaics, marble and ornate sculptures, woodwork, and decorum. The shopping is Italian chic (wait till you see the pants I bought here!!). With minimal tourists you can sip and savor a more pure Italian city.

Castillo Vecchio

Ahhh - a man who can shoulder his own weight!

I love the terraced and flower-potted balcones that line the small streets and alleyways.

Today I felt like I died and landed in cycling heaven…Oh the bikes, the boys, the bodies, and the buses. All the big name teams are here – except Radio Shack – they just finished the Tour of California and are saving up for the big one. I found the action real quick – and hung out with the boys for a bit before the big event – the final 15K TT starting and finishing in Verona.

The boys – I won’t introduce each of these fine young men – because I have no idea who they are…only that they are fit, young, and lean.

Getting focused

Wonder what he's listening to? Ramping up or mellowing down?

Gianni -the head masseuse for Milram invited me to the team bus for cafe

Jean Pierre - the lead mechanic for Milram

I think he's still in high school

Vinokourov - not time to warm-up yet. Chatting with the fans

Gotta love these boys

Now for  the bodies!!!

!

Love those skin suits!

Oh my!!!

Long and lean

Must be a sprinter - just look at that calf and hamstring!

Shaved down

HMMM - not sure what the hands are doing - must not be hanging right...

These look like climbing legs

Oh yea!!!!

I could draft this for a while 🙂

OK for all you gear heads – here’s the bikes

Look at these LOOKS

The bikes of Columbia High Road - that disk wheel sure is pretty

Just a few wheels laying around

The bikes of Saxo Bank

Hey Dave - check out this mechanics work shop

Fine tuning

Ready for the warm-up

Now that's an interesting wheel

A stunning display of aerodynamics and art

The crowd was swarming the Liqigas buses in hopes of watching Basso warm up

These guys are so fast that if you blinked when they rode by you missed em.

Vinokourov just out of the shoot

The noise from my balcone was deafening – helicopters hovering overhead, the announcers shouting out the next rider across the finish, the music, and the crowds wildly banging on the side boards lining the route – Que follia (what craziness). I watched in awe as the creme de la creme of cycling blazed just below me – Damiano Cunego, Carlos Sastre, Cadell Evans, Marco Pinotti, Vinokourov (the crowd went wild), Marco Scaponi and the Giro d’Italia champion Ivan Basso – the crowd was thunderous!!!

Ivan Basso bringing it home for victory

Questo e incedible (This is incredible). What an unforgetable day!

Lots of noise last night as the trucks were rolling in and set up was in process for the Giro d’Italia finish today in Verona. I was out on the streets early this morning taking in the preparations for the big event. Here’s some behind the scenes shots you won’t see on TV.

Assembling the start platform

Putting the finishing touches on the start gate

Yamaha - the official lead motorcycle

Sweeping the streets - don't want no stinking flat today!

The official officials of the Giro - checking the home stretch

The finish

All the local bike groups are out this morning

The Italians know how to make it fun - even the port-o-potties are colorful

Giro goodies and gear

So that's how the women wear those bibs....

Giro girls - que benne

The official Giro segway

Setting up the timing equipment for the finish

Everyone's helping out

Cervelo reps from around the globe - here for the party compliments of Cervelo

Map of start, finish and Gwen's hotel - what good fortune!

View of the finishing stretch from my balcone - can you believe this...

Manarola

Always carried a swim suit in my pack as you never knew what little beach gems where hiding around the bend or in the next town. And the water was mighty inviting after a vigorous hike. Here are a few of my favorite.

Vernazza

Vernazza

Monterusso

Monterusso

Corniglia

It was fun trying to change into your suit right there on the beach. The Germans were the best at it – they had no modesty.

Sunset at Corniglia

There are no words to describe the splendor of the evening.

Moonrise at Corniglia