Road Trip northern Italy 2015: Up and Over the Mountains

There is something pretty amazing about being shuttle hundreds of meters in the air only to find yourself staring back at the the place you've just left behind and the expansive space in front of you- so much more to see and everything can now be given another context.

Corine's turn to point - Cortina's Faloria ski slopes.

Selfie from Faloria

This morning we started with a walk back into Cortina to take the cable car up to Faloria, 2123m, as the sun rises up over it and shines across the entire valley. We walked along the cliff's edges to see out and to avoid the skiers racing into the lift lines. And then a morning coffee on the terrace before return to town to get the car.

Stunning cliffs on the edge of Faloria.

Looking across from Faloria to Tofana and the town of Cortina.

another Piste Bully!

Faloria cable car - not so busy going down!

We were moving hotels and we're off to Colle Santa Lucia via the Giau Pass, 2230m. Strange that we drove 100m higher than we went by lift. We stopped several times to wander off to take photos and to take in the sights. The pass itself was extremely impressive as it gave us a 360 of Dolomiti mountains. We walked up to the Ra Gusela peaks, so orange against the blue sky and white snow. The Monte Cernera was on the opposite side making a space for the Giau pass.

Approaching the Giau Pass

Across the Passo Giau - snow and more snow - what you don't see are the valleys below and the one we'll descend into.

The banks of snow at the top of the pass - not as much as what Nova Scotia enjoyed.

Monique with the Nuvolao range behind her, and the last part of the Passo Giau ascent for us.

Corine on the Passo de Giau

We descended 29 switch backs going from -2 to 11'C and back up to Colle Santa Lucia and a comfortable 7'C. We dropped into our hotel on the edge and were show a great walk up and over the local hills to a Belvedere, look out, where we found a great restaurant with a view.