...my true love gave to me, ten hordes a skiing.
Today was kinda emotional. We are in Italy to ski but the snow is bad as you heard yesterday. So I got up to eat breakfast with Guy and go with him to get his skis and see him off at the cable car. There were hordes of people in line to cram onto the dangly thing of death. Of course it doesn't bother him at all, but he said I would have hated the 15+ minute ride. It was crammed with people, it was hot inside and the windows were all fogged up. IF I can do an elevator, it can't have many people on it. So there you have it.
As I walked away I felt bad because I hate that I have that problem, but also I came to ski, too. So disappointed, I actually had a few tears pop out as I walked back to the hotel. I'm sure the guy who gave me my room key thought we'd been in a fight. LOL. It was still early and no shops were open and since my makeup was already smudged I decided to come down to the bar area that has nice leather sofas and watch "A Fault In Our Stars". That way I could continue the tear fest and get it out of my system. So I watched, and that I did. Again, the guy at the hotel probably thought I was going to jump out the window or something. Ha Ha. But the movie was excellent (sad) and now that all that business was over I desperately needed some retail therapy. So I fixed my face and hit the streets.
Since it was getting close to lunch I thought I'd shop and look for a place to eat all at the same time. Shopping is not too good. It is Sunday and some shops are not open and the other shops are super duper expensive. I don't even want to go in- they are that ridiculous. But I picked up some post cards, stamps and a couple of ornaments. I did find a nice place to eat. It was busy and when I walked in and said "one" he said "one"? and not in a way that was like "oh, what is a sweet girl like you doing eating all by herself", but more like "Oh...your single self is going to hog up a table when we are really busy." But he sat me quickly in a nice spot that I could people watch. I also had my phone and caught up on Facebook and Twitter to keep me busy. I ordered a pizza margarita and water. This town doesn't have coke light!! From what I could gather from my seat is it is a mom and pop shop with the son on the pizza's. They had a cute wood burning oven, however sometimes they came out with other types of food, so there must have been a kitchen in the back as well. It was so busy that when a gal walked in she spoke twice to the main guy as he walked right by her and he COMPLETELY ignored her. TWICE! Yikes. So she and her family left. Weird. So I waited and waited for my check and I did see some people pay at the register area. So I got up and asked if I should pay here. They said yes and ignored me for what seemed like 10 more minutes and finally the wife said "we are very busy". I said I understood and waited patiently. At least they took credit cards.
So I roamed the streets until time to meet Guy. As I evaluated the town (and I'm being pretty judgmental here) this isn't a town with many friendly people, the ladies all have big fur coats, puffy lips and they all brought their little sweater clad dogs. So I'd say I feel a bit out of place here, as I had no dog, but that is ok. :) Ha Ha. However, the sun has actually popped out and I took several pictures and enjoyed the spectacular scenery. The Dolomites are quite amazing. At one point, when the sky cleared, there was a very weird mushroom shaped cloud over one of the big peaks. I got some shots of it and they'll be in today's pictures, but I've seen this phenomena on the weather channel and there is an name for it. So that was really cool.
Time to meet Guy, so I went back to the room to get his shoes and headed to the cable car. He was already waiting on me and I could tell he had a good day by the look on his face. (quick sidebar: I'm in the lounge and an Italian family is down here as well. The mom, who looks to be about 40 is singing to the radio. The song playing is "All about that base" Sung by an American, Megan Trainor, a heavy white gal singing about it's ok to be a larger size and having a big "base". I think it is funny - does this Italian know what she is singing about?) Ok, back to Guy. So he told me I would have hated the ride up and even though he had a wonderful time, the snow wasn't groomed so it was bumpy. Also there were only two lifts working and it was really crowded. He rode the same lift several times. Several dozen times I think. So that does get old. He appreciates skiing with me now because he frequently has to stop for me to catch up. He realizes now that gives him some pretty good breaks. When he is on his own he can go at his own pace and doesn't have a reason to stop. :) He did get some awesome pictures from the top (even a few selfies) and they are the first 10 in today's line up.
On the walk back to the room we passed a restaurant I wanted to eat dinner at. I went in earlier that day and asked to make a reservation for tonight at 7. This is early for the Italians and I didn't think it would be problem, but she (an older gal that was a waitress) told me "already full". So as we walked by it I told Guy that I wanted to eat there but it was a no. So a guy from the restaurant was at the door and Guy said he'd like to make a reservation for tonight. He looked at Guy and said "7:30?" We said yes and gave him our name. What the heck? Was it the fuzzy braids and hat that I sported early today that made her think I was a transient or something? I had a "Pretty Woman" moment when Julia Roberts told the guy at the hotel "nobody would wait on me". LOL.
Back at the room and when we were out of stories for the day, Guy showered and we both took naps. I was going to start my blog earlier, but was too sleepy. I set the alarm on my phone as we had had these reservations we couldn't miss. But before dinner we went looking for Guy a Tshirt. I looked ALL DAY and there was only one shop with Tshirts and he wouldn't have liked it. The only place I didn't go in (because it closes in the middle of the day, which I don't understand because it is like a mini mall) had shirts -- this coming from the hotel guy. So sure enough there were some really nice shirts and he got a hat as well. They also had food, a pharmacy, kitchen pots and pans, fabric by the roll, clothes, skis, Christmas ornaments...you name it. But his shirt is really nice.
So dinner. We ordered a speck (ham) plate. It is thinly sliced (you could read a paper through it) and it was served with horseradish and a pickle. The combo of all three together was amazing...we savored every bite. Then came our entrees. We both ordered the same thing, we usually don't so we can try different things, but I was solid with this item because it is why I wanted to eat there to begin with: pumpkin stuffed ravioli with smoked ricotta and fried speck. I'm glad we both got it because it was SO DELICIOUS I wouldn't have wanted to share! Oh my, was it ever good. It was heavily covered with freshly grated parmesan. To-die-for. We had a side of veggies and for dessert - Lava Cake. Yep...possibly our best meal so far. My belly is smiling.
For a quick wrap up of Cortina. Not the friendliest part of Italy we've been to, but scenery is spectacular. The skiing, even if there WAS snow, doesn't hold a candle to Whistler or anyplace in Colorado. Limited runs and none of the big "ski from the top all the way down runs" like we like to finish the day with. Big dangly cable cars are the only way up if there is no snow in the lower parts. Shopping is way too expensive. Food was delicious. Not a problem to get to if you like trains and buses, but if we had driven (not sure where we'd put the car as the hotel is in a pedestrian area) it would not have been too terribly scary, only a few spots on the main road coming in would have been hairy if snow covered. Nothing like the road going up to the ski lodge by the Matterhorn in 2006. That day I will never ever forget as long as I live. Here? Piece of cake.
So after today we are still solid with our decision to go to Innsbruck for our last two days. Looking forward to ending on a Christmas market note instead of a snowless ski town note. Good night from Cortina! Ciao!
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