The Dolomite Express
We decided to take the long way home. Why drive north to Denmark when you can head the opposite way to Süd Tirol and experience the Dolomites? I'm pretty sure that we wont do another season in St Anton so there was need for some reconnaissance of our next escape. Superlatives in any language fail to describe the magnitude of their beauty. Limestone monoliths erupting from the forest below, up to 2km high. Depending on the time of day, they are either, yellow, grey or pink and provide an amazing contrast to their sky blue background and spring forest foreground. Some of the towns here are equally enchanting - a unique combination of Tirolean architecture, Italian food and local Laddish authenticity. We spend a couple of nights in Canazei which was lovely & so friendly. A large park in the centre of town with a number of play sets meant Silje had a ball, especially around 4-7pm when all the families come out to socialise before diner. The only negative point for me was the ski terrain seemed lacked any runs back to town. Wolkenstein in the neighbouring Val Gardina was a little gem we discovered. A village of about 1700 people spread through the valley in beautiful Tirolean houses, it had access to the same area as Canazei with the added bonus of 3 runs back to the centre of town plus a few nice looking side country possibilities. Before heading back north, we also stopped by Cortina d'Amprezza. Much bigger than most resort towns, this place was truly gorgeous. Full of espresso & wine bars, Gucci & Armarni shops lined the pedestrian only centre. The pistes seems seemed pretty sedate but I'd heard that there were some nice freeride possibilities there. If so, this could be the place we move to - if only we could afford it!.
