BUONGIORNO ITALIA!!!! It just sounds good, doesn't it!
I must start by saying I LOVE ITALY! Italy was always kind of a fantasy to me. We did spend our 15 year anniversary in Capri and that was quite amazing....but the whole country top to bottom is hard to beat. Maybe it's because of the food...being my favorite, but I think it's the whole package with the exception of clothes....Italian sizing is just not made for American bodies...but we'll get to that later.
So as usual....I can't believe I just said 'usual' it's really not usual, it's just our school schedule and most European school schedules have this crazy thing in the month of February called Ski Break! I remember the first ski break 8 weeks after we moved in...heading to Austria. I had never seen so many men peeing on the side of the road....or being stopped on the Autobahn in a stau (aka major traffic jam) and people getting off their tour buses to grab coolers of beer from under the bus.....anyways.....ski break....we love ski break.
This year we decided to embark on another adventure. We don't have our sport utility, so packing is always a bit of a challenge. Kids are bigger, legs are longer (don't laugh....I know not mine...just the kids), butts are bigger (ok...don't laugh....that would be just mine) and the luggage just has to fit. Packing for ski trips is a nightmare....and now all the kids pack themselves (which is fantastic), but for some reason this year the car was packed to the absolute maximum capacity.
We leave about 6:30pm on Friday night to make it just on the outskirts of Munich, about 4 hours away. The good thing...no car sickness....just a little agitation ( ok let's be honest ) there just isn't enough room for Noah's legs behind my seat anymore....and I'm just not ready or willing to give up shot gun. I know I won't be getting mom of the year this time around. There's just something about giving up that front seat to your kid....(it's a little like the 10 euros you loaned them last week) you'll never get it back! We made it to Munich with absolutely no problem! So after a good night's sleep we were recharged to hit the last few hours winding through the Alps....
I don't know about your family, but growing up our family would road trip it from Wisconsin to Florida most spring breaks. I'm probably dating myself, but I can vividly remember crossing the state line into Florida and my dad pulling over at one of the roadside orange juice stands...where you got fresh squeezed orange juice and drank it from a plastic orange with a straw! Loved that......
Well, crossing the line into Italy is a little similar....except we pull off the autobahn....and stand around the counter of a gas station sipping an Italian espresso! Italy we have arrived!!!
Winding and climbing the roads to our hotel was breathtaking....blue sky, sun was shining....I actually think I had to rub a little rust off the hinges of my sunglasses as they haven't been used in quite some time (being this is the darkest winter in Germany since 1952..but that's another story). The hotel was nestled right into the slopes....perfect. Since this is our 4th ski break in Europe I had come to the decision early that I pretty much suck at skiing. My kids have all passed me....no more ski school for them! They are off and running with Tim on every steep, black diamond possible, going lightening fast (actually I'm kind of relieved I don't see it)!
So...what's a girl to do in Italy when everyone else is skiing???? Ok - that is a silly question. I decided that I would embark on my own adventure. Everyday the gang would take off about 8:30 to catch the first gondola....there is no sleeping in when it comes to skiing! So as I bid arrivederci to the troops, I signed up for the snowshoeing adventure with Karin. How hard could it be? I've snowshoed....it will be invigorating.....fresh air, blue skies...the Alps as my backdrop! So....I went to the reception area at 9:00 ready to meet my other 'trekkers'....see I even I have the lingo down! There were some lovely ladies there...looked about my age....about my fitness level....this is all good.....I'm sure they would want to stop along the way for a glass of Italian red, right???? I couldn't make out much of what they were conversing about in the lobby.....just a lot of grazie, prego.....but I did start to get a bit suspicious as they said Ciao....and I was the last one standing! (and I'll emphasize standing). So...it was now just Karin and me. Karin was lovely. Gorgeous Italian, fit woman who spoke a little bit of english. I think she weighted what I did in high school. I honestly felt like an amazon next to her...but this brings me back to Italian sizing....yea...nothing fits me unless I go up like 14 bazillion sizes....and even if I cut the tag off....I just can't get that XXXXXXXXXL feeling out of my mind. Karin informs me that the other ladies were a bit tired from yesterday's adventure. I wasn't able to go as I was fighting this crazy head cold and didn't want to push it....So, Karin and I set off. We walk into town ( all of about 100 meters ) and strap on the old snow shoes. Karin takes a swig of something from her backpack, and puts on her cute little hat; her long black braids hanging down on either side.....and off we go. It is beautiful....sunny, no wind....just perfect. Except for the pace.....OK - now remember we are a bit higher....altitude...and I really can't breathe through my nose because it's a bit stuffy. Why don't I have some kleenex along like my mom always used to put in my coat pocket! Karin is a pro....and about 2 hours into the excursion through waist deep snow at some points I was really hoping for a swig of whatever she had because obviously I was in need of something! "How are you doing Amy", she would ask....I would simply mumble, "great, any chance we're stopping for water anytime soon". She would answer, "oh...you so funny...prego, prego". (or something like that....I have to admit I was swearing under my breath at points) Anyways...I enjoyed every minute of our 7 km trek uphill to a gorgeous vista....this lovely waterfall that I quite honestly wanted to just tear off all my clothes and shower in it...as my attire was a bit too warm for snowshoeing....I kept shedding layers! It was quite empowering as I looked down....we had climbed up about 1600 meters.....and my heart was a pounding. (good thing I wasn't wearing a heart monitor...it would have been beeping continually and would be a bit of a buzz kill to the silence of the Alps) Keep in mind.....we had to trek back down (7 more km) - although I was hoping I'd hear one of those helicopters over head....because surely they had been tracking me with all the beads of sweat I had dropped along the path! No such luck.....but Karin did offer me a bit of gold! She said I looked like I could use a little chocolate. Yes!!!! We were like soul sisters at this point....give me a big old snickers, or some of that great swiss chocolate (even though we're in Italy). But....what to my wandering eyes did appear? She had a piece of chocolate left over from her espresso this morning. I kid you not...it was the size of my pinky fingernail....and was bitter chocolate! I felt as though I was taking communion...a little sip of something from her flask.....and a piece of chocolate that I tried my very hardest to savor.....but hey.....now I know why the Italians fit in the clothes they do.....there ain't no hershey king size bars available!
Enough of that....my snowshoe adventure was great! I got to the point where I actually trusted that the spikes in my snowshoes would not slip as I traversed downhill on a path no wider that a balance beam (ok maybe a little wider than that). Karin took the hotel camera with her so she could take pictures along the way...and I loved those stops for photos! I actually could catch my breath. And...when we were sitting having a glass of wine that evening in the bar my pictures flashed across the screen...along with all the other adventures of the day that people participated in). I had proof to Tim and the kids that mom actually did snowshoe and not treat herself to the spa all day! (although I did that, too) I think I now realize why the other ladies opted for the spa that morning. The last 500 meters of the trek I could barely pick my feet up...my hat was off, my jacket unzipped, my neck warmer (aka kleenex) zipped in my pocket, my gloves off....anything so my body could actually breathe. Falling in the snow at the end was my favorite part, but we did make it back to the hotel in plenty of time so I could carbo load from the lunch assortment and be ready for the next day! I love Italy!
One other highlight of our trip was the ski race. One evening the owner of the hotel came around and told us about the hotel ski race. We traveled with friends this year, and it was their 7th year at the hotel...and they had never participated in the race. (they are very wise friends) So, who is the first one to volunteer......Caleb! The other kids scrunch down in their seats as they want no part of it. Caleb then persuades (it didn't take much) Tim to participate as well. Heck, what is a middle aged man to do, right? As they look around the room sizing up their competition, they are tempted to trip a few men on the way out....or maybe stick a little something in the pasta.....those Europeans are good skiers! So we've got to crazies who decide to participate in the race!
Race day is another perfect day on the slopes.....as we go to the ski room at the hotel to get equipment....there is actually no room in the inn! There are so many people participating it's crazy. Tim gives me a look.....a look I know well! I give him the 'look' back! As parents we all know the look. It's the look that says I am a total idiot...and I can't back out now because we always tell our kids to never quit! So off they go to catch the gondola to the starting point. Being the cheering squad I strap on my camera and head to the slopes...no snow shoes required this time around. He basically threatened the kids to get out there and cheer.....so everyone (reluctantly at best) headed out to cheer! I get a text from Tim saying he's had a shot of grappe! There are more adults competing than kids.....and most of the adults are doing exercises to warm up......
So.....out of the starting gate they announce CALEB - representing the USA! The crowd goes wild (no, not really) but he had the time of his life....and even looked right at me as he flew by! Absolutely priceless! He ended up with a medal.....and a grin from ear to ear!
It should have been a dead giveaway at the start......a 6 ft 3 inch frame could barely fit in the starting gate.....all those Italian men are like little pocket pals! Size alone will surely be a disadvantage for speed, right!
But...being the ultimate trooper....and even though he didn't medal.....he and Caleb had a great time and enjoyed every minute! It really was priceless! We do think faulty timing equipment....maybe he unplugged it as he tried to fit through the starting gate. We all really think if his name was Timtonia Schmidtaroni he would have medaled for sure!
ARRIVEDERCI! Until next time! We will be back........
