Italian Easy Rider

Yesterday, I was looking for a picture to put on a friend's birthday card, and came across this one that I had taken on our recent trip to Europe. I remembered how romantic the thought of this Vespa was, and how fun it would be to ride it through all those little towns up and down the Italian boot. Zipping through the Alps, meandering the small ancient roads, exploring tiny villages perched on the slopes of hillsides, and even daring the beautiful Amalfi coastline would all be a wonderful adventure to have.

Will I ever take this adventure? Chissa....

Bolzano - A Memorable River Walk and Dinner

Before heading out to dinner one evening, we decided to take a stroll alongside the banks of the Talber River. There are two tree-lined promenades which are wonderful to stroll on either in the evening or on a warm summer afternoon. There are wonderful views of several of the castles surrounding Bolzano, as well as views of sprawling vineyards and the Dolomites in the background. Our walk was along the western bank of the river, and we headed in a northernly direction. We passed playgrounds and tennis courts where the locals congregate. We headed up to the the castle for more views. It was great way to work up an appetite before our wonderful feast at the Schloss Korb.


The Schloss Korb is located in Appiano, a small town on the outskirts of Bolzano, along the Via del Vino (the wine road). It is nestled atop a hill surrounded by rolling hills filled with vineyards. We had asked our hotel for a recommendation for a romantic restaurant with a view. When he recommended this restaurant, we knew that it would be the perfect place to experience the tranquility and beauty of the region. Driving up to the Schloss did not disappoint. We passed acres of vineyards and saw castles and monasteries perched on every hilltop. Once at the Schloss, we took a walk around the premises before settling on the terrace overlooking the valley for dinner. The restaurant is a bit pricey, but the views make it well worth it. The food was very good and the service attentive. We ordered a Korb platter which was advertised as a complete dinner for two featuring grilled meats and vegetables. We knew we were in trouble when they had to bring an extra table to lay the platter of food on! There was enough food to feed at least 4 people. We felt bad having all the excellent food go to waste. So, if you go, do not order the Korb Platter unless you are REALLY hungry or they will let you share it between 4 people. The wines offered were local varieties and very good. Watching the sun set over those beautiful valleys was an incredible experience.

Bolzano - The Ritten Cablecar & Earth Pyramids

We just got back from a whirlwind trip to Bavaria, the Austrian Tyrol, the Sudtirol area of Italy, and Salzburg. I wanted to share some of the travel joys we experienced in case someone else is planning a trip and might enjoy our adventures. We like to experience some of the out of the way places that seem to make the trip so much more memorable. So here is a blog of our adventures in and near Bolzano, Italy (located in the Alto-Adige province of Italy and very near the Austrian border). Before I begin, I'd like to give a brief history of this part of Italy. Up until World War I, it belonged to Austria. Even to this day, the towns have two names: one Italian and the other German. For instance, Bolzano is also known as Bozen. Many people here still speak German, and in fact, some don't even speak Italian! There is a movement here to become independent. They would like to be called the Sudtirol and be independent from both Italy and Austria.

Our first excursion around Bolzano was via the Ritten cablecar (La Funivia del Renon) to Oberbozen. This cablecar rises high above the city of Bolzano, over beautiful valleys covered in vineyards and filled with beautiful Dolomite views. The trip only takes 10 minutes, but it takes you to an altitude of 1200 meters.




Once in Oberbozen, you can purchase a ride on an old cogwheel train to the town of Collalbo. This old train also offers culinary night journeys where visitors can enjoy a gourmet meal with local wines and music. Once in Collalbo (Klobenstein), we followed the old wooden signs towards the Ritten Earth Pyramids. It was about a 4 km walk (one way) along mostly paved roads via small towns. The walk does have lots of hills but it is easily walkable for most people. The last part is along a well-maintained dirt trail through the woods.



The views of the valley with it's tiny towns and churches all below beautiful Dolomite peaks is spectacular. The highlight is the famous Earth Pyramids. These are a phonomenon of erosion and very unique looking formations.