Bolzano and Otzi the iceman

At the archeological museum

We travelled along the autostrada to the city of Bolzano (it’s 49 minutes away from Trento)

The roads were busy there, but thanks to our sat nav we found the location. To our good luck we found a car space along the road nearby as someone pulled out and we took that space. 

The museum is 4 floors 3 about how the iceman was found and then explanations of all the evidence they have gleaned and about how his body remained preserved from 3500 BC

We could see Otzi through a glass preserving tank. He looked so wonderful, so amazing we are so lucky to see him. He was discovered in 1991 but it wasn’t for 3 days that they realised his significance and and from the copper age. He has remnants of sheep skin trousers. Bearskin hat and a copper headed axe. Spears and a dagger. His shoes are lined with bear skin and made of thatched grasses. 

From his teeth they could pin point the area where he was born and lived for his childhood. Then 30 years in another area. He was murdered by a spear in his back through his shoulder. 

It is fascinating to see all they have discovered from his body. We bought a book about it. 

You were not allowed to take any photos and that’s ok. Here is all I can show you. 

Next after a pasta and salad lunch we explored a huge high pass through the mountains to Cles and then onto Trento It has scary sheer drops and nowhere to stop to take pics 

So pleased vince was driving 

It was well worth the experience to really get a feel of the high Dolomites. 

This is our view from our holiday house which is ideal but as I said before very stressful to reach through a narrow tunnel and road! Only got to do this 3 more times now 🤪

Trento to Canazei Dolomites 

Today is a much clearer day. We can see the tops of the mountains and the sun is shining although there is a cold wind in the mountains.

We travelled through high mountain roads with eye watering sheer cliff sides down down down to steep valleys. They had hairpin bends but all the way was crash barriers and good two way roads. We went through a few tunnels too. 

We finally found the sheer peaks of rocks we wanted to photograph! 

It was interesting to see that as we climbed the roads, there were vines growing on terraces but after a certain height no vines and instead masses of wild flower meadows. It must be too cold over a certain height to grow vines. 

At the highest parts there are the ski villages and one with a ski lift still working to take walkers up to the summit. 

We passed bikers and hikers. 

There are many marked walks and cycle tracks to follow but at our age the car and the road sufficed 🤣🤣

We returned the same way as there was no circular routes for this journey.

Today I’ve had apple strudel at our coffee break

Spaghetti carbonara for lunch more coffee

ice cream with berries as a stop off with Diet Coke on return journey. 

Salad for tea tonight 

I need to go on a diet when I get home! 

Hope you like my photos x

Tuesday 2 June

Woke up to rain today and mist on top of the mountains and along the cliffs. The rain stopped and started in different locations so we journeyed on to view the lakes regardless. 

As we left, the neighbours were working on their allotment gardens. You should see their veg gardens!

Leaving Trento we headed up the mountains.

So they make Grappa wines here which is a process in wine making increasing the alcohol level.

We followed the reverse way we travelled from yesterday but because of the clouds and rain it seemed so different and it was hard to realise how the mountains were. There are many tunnels through the mountains but the roads seem very wide and safe to drive

We stopped for a walk at the lake until the rain started really pouring and then made our way slowly back. 

Really we had to give up then at 2pm ish as we could see so little and when we got out of the car it was too wet to enjoy properly.

Managed the tunnel back to the house it’s aging us 10 years each time! 

So now we are spending time looking through our photos and sorting them out.

Lake molveno Dolomites Italy 

Well I am in love with Tuscany and now I’m in love with the Dolomites too 🤗

Our holiday house has everything we need only drawback is a very narrow tunnel to get the car through to reach it… but we managed it again twice out and in 🤪

We have a few lakes around here and today our first full day, we planned to visit Lago di Molveno. 

The roads were safe although we climbed up the mountains with hairpin bends. We only drive slowly and so as soon as we get to a passing place we pull over and let the cars and Lorries pass us!

The views were as you can imagine spectacular. 

Half way up the mountain we found a hotel the Bike Hotel. We had a coffee and sat outside looking at the view and breathing the fresh air. 

We reached the top and began to descend to the lake. 

In the town there were the usual tourist shops hotels cafes etc. We couldn’t find a free parking space so travelled around the lake a little and luckily a car pulled out so we had a great spot above the lake. 

It was raining by now but we could see the sun shining on the jagged peaks. The sunshine gradually moved over the lake to our side and the rain gradually stopped. 

There was a steep set of steps down to the lake and a foot path all around the lake towards the town. We stayed there for ages firstly in the gentle rain then in the sunshine. There were some large rocks we could sit on. 

We took loads of photos. The mountains and reflections in the water were so pretty. It

Was so peaceful there away from the people in the town. 

We followed the road further through the mountains and found that we didn’t need to retrack as the road eventually led back to Trento! 

We again stopped along the way at viewing points. The gigantic mountains with vertical sides and jagged peaks remind me so much of Norway. The rocks are pinkish and orangey in parts. 

Very hard igneous rocks. 

We stopped at a mineral museum  at miravalle bar

And sat outside admiring the view eating apple strudel and drinking coffee. Overlooking another much smaller lake

When we got back the temperature is 30*c but in the high mountains it was 21*c. 

Looking forward to more days in these mountains.

I think I’m a mountain girl at heart.