WOW Day 21 - February 13th 2009 Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy

Slept in until 9:30 this morning and went out in search of rental skis with Katie. We found the Ski System rental shop which Sarah had recommended to us and the proprietor, Walter, hooked us up with some sweet planks and boots to match. We caught a couple of buses all the way to Socrepes where we took quite a few lifts up to the very top of the mountain. At this point I must pause for a moment and say that words or even pictures do not come close to justice for the magnificence in which we were present for today. WOW is all I can muster. Katie and I are sure that when our Lord Jesus returns for judgement day, his landing is going to take place somewhere on the high rise of the Dolomiti peaks we witnessed today. To continue from my side story; We snapped a couple of breathtaking photographs up on top (illustrated below) and started our descent hooking right because I wanted to head for the Cinque Torri section of the mountain. We made it to the 5 Torri and took a couple of runs through the wide open almost country-esque rolling hills of snow. We were a bit cold so we decided to pack it in and headed for the base lodge of the 5 Torri. The bus wasn’t coming for an hour so we sat down for a quick Bombardino, which is a creme/rum/cinnamon concoction. Arriving back at the hotel Katie and I soon passed out from sheer exhaustion. We wandered towards the center of town looking for a small trattoria or ristorante to replenish our growling bellies. For some very odd reason, the place was a total ghosttown. I mean not a soul to be seen anywhere. It was rather spooky to say the least so we headed back for the hotel and ate at the same place we had been the previous night, the Vienna and sampled a few of their other dishes. Sleep was blissful after the strenuous day of awe inspiring beauty and heavenly righteous skiing.