Heading back to Italy

Chuck had planned to do the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, with its 38 switchbacks, but even he was over it. So we used the Brenner Pass instead. This is a toll road and many lanes wide. It's stressful for different reasons. The toll was a one time charge of 16E, they took our credit card.

The terrain began to feel different, there were lots of tunnels, vineyards once in awhile on the sides of the mountains, castles and more rugged outpost or watchtower type buildings. This is what the toll road looked like to get on, and to get off.

Lajen (Also spelled Laion) is technically a municipality in the South Tyrol area of Northern Italy. There was no sign announcing that we were back in Italy, so I was surprised to see the yellow letters on the side of the road. Quick snap from the phone. This was going to be our hub for the next few days while we hiked the Dolomites and I gulped out loud at how it clung to the side of the mountain. A small rugged path-like road built for one American car or goats wound up and up to this village. I was so glad to get out of the car. This area has their own dialect and it's not just me that couldn't pick up German or Italian words, but I blamed it on being stressed out. Check out the "Gruss Gott" welcome sign. Lajen is considered one of the gateways to Val Gardena. Our accommodations for the days ahead included an upstairs room (no elevators, so luggage was taken up 3 flights of stairs, in several trips) and our own bathroom (There was always a bidet. I didn't use it.) The breakfast and dinner were included in our fee and we were so surprised that dinners were 3 course chef inspired and widely varied, linen tablecloth affairs. The view out the upstairs window was divine.

The daily newspaper was available. I used my Google Translate app a lot, in both Italian and German, and the translation of the calendar is below. Yes, I loved it.