A quick chat with the receptionist revealed plenty of options. I decided to head up to the Passo Falzarego which also includes 5 Torri (5 towers).
This is also where the WW1 frontline was between Italy and Austria and so should be some things of interest to see.
First of all up the cable car.
Got a one way ticket which meant a 3 hour walk back down. One option was to come back down through some tunnels but you needed a helmet and torch and so I took the walk over the mountain crests, around the back, and down. Interesting!
Ropes and ladders were needed. Strangely they gave some comfort as the route was not clearly marked and once or twice I wandered to an edge which was literally the edge!!
I set off with a number of other walkers, but they were only going to the top cross for photos. After this I was on my own which gave me a few 'what would happen if' thoughts.
Great scenery.
Tomorrows road.
The descent included this path.
You can see it zig-zagging down. It buggered my knees - ouch. The end of my squash career (what career??)
Then came to a WW1 museum.
It was closed for lunch. A 3 hour walk and it's closed for lunch!!! Tourism - not.
Going back down the valley I called into 5 Torri which is also the location of an open air WW1 museum. Fingers crossed they are not on lunch.
The 5 Towers are popular with climbers.
(click on the picture to see how many you can spot)
Local WW1 history lesson: Before the war Cortina was Austrian. All the males went off to fight Russia leaving Cortina free for the Italians to walk in. The front line between Austria and Italy was established in the mountains and the confrontation consisted of artillery from mountain trenches.
Went into Cortina for the evening. Landmark church together with modern art....
They had rolled out the blue carpet for me.
Back at the hotel an Italian Minister had turned up - don't even think corruption.....
Beauty and the beast
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