Bormio

Well, I am feeling like a true Italian.  

The Davini's took me to the mountains with them, for a long weekend, to celebrate Carnevale (aka Mardi Gras, aka the beginning of Lent).  Most Italians spend their summers at the beach and their winters in the mountains.  That is just how it is.  Usually my host family goes to the famous Dolomiti, but this time there was not enough room so they settled for Bormio.  It is a small town in Valtellina, which is a large valley in the region of Lombardia.  It is known for its spas, natural thermal baths, wine, and bresaola (an air-dried, salted beef that has a sweet scent).

Now, if any of you know me you would know I cannot handle the cold..but with a view like this you can withstand anything!  Enjoy the pictures!  I only wish you could also breathe the fresh, pure air along with it.

Bormio

Matteo, hitching a ride to the top

Energy break!  We spent the vacation with the Davini's good family friends.

Closing le piste (the slopes)

 On the first day we had quite an adventure!  I was not skiing so I took the funicular up to 3,000 mt. to take in the beautiful scenery.  When I came back down it was 4:45 and the slopes were about to close in fifteen minutes.

At exactly 5pm Simone calls me and says "Isabel, I need a favor.  We took the wrong path.." and my phone died. 

I kept my cool and asked to use the bar's phone.  They were closing so they pointed me to the police, who were getting ready to head out too!  I marched in and said "C'e una famiglia ancora nelle montagne!" ("There's a family still in the mountains!").  So two officers hopped on their snowmobiles and sped off.  They arrived ten minutes later with Simone and Fabio (Simone's good friend).  What had happened was they had accidentally taken a wrong turn and ended up going down a black slope, which is the most difficult!  Matteo had to lie flat to make it safely down and Daria rolled!  No one got hurt so we can laugh about it now.  We had driven up the mountain and they had skiied further down than where we parked, so the dads and I drove down to gather everyone else.  Those are memories right there.

Ancient houses

I spotted this woman in the window and she gave me a perfect Italian moment to capture, from her handkerchief to the little shrine to Mary.

Where do you want to go?

An old shoe shop

Hotel Baita Clementi

Such a cozy place even with the snow!

We got to spend our last day at the thermal spa.  We returned to Milan yesterday evening and you can only imagine how I am missing that clean air!  It was an absolutely marvelous vacation and I really really hope I can do it again.