Day 7 - Mountain "Averau"
Good Morning
Mornings in Cortina starts early if the goal in mind are
day trips. The cable cars and public transport stop working at afternoon or
early evening.
The morning started with the best breakfast we had in the trip especially
due to the wonderful apricot jam croissants (It's a lot tastier than the
sounds of it). Afterwards we heed to the hotel owner advice and took a bus
to our first (and better) day trip - Mountain Averau that stands tall to
2648 meter above the surface.
Averau Mountain
With the bus arrival we took the cable car. It is possible to make the ascent by foot but I won't recommend it since it's a long boring way and you'll need to save your energy for tougher parts. The trek is pretty hard, and I recommend it for reasonably fit walkers. The way takes about 4-5 hours to accomplish. Bring light equipment including only the basics along with something to tie yourself to the iron bars that will help you along the way.
The cable car ride ascent to 2416 meters and takes only a
few minutes and then you'll arrive to the start if the trek. Merciless cold
and wind will ambush you when stepping out of the cable car. I wasn't
particularly ready for trip (only thin and thick shirt layers) and so I had
to improvise equipment that will defend my poor head from the unbearable
wind.
Eventually I looked funny enough so that Dafna keeps laughing about it till
this day.
Start of the walk. Stunning view and hilarious improvisations.
The scenery is not meant to be written or spoken in words. We just couldn't believe we're there. The landscape is composed mainly of mountains and forest, and in this time of the year only few of the mountains are covered in snow.
Amazing scenery wherever you go.
Walking uphill the mountain was very hard and even harder for Dafna. In the mountain's summit there is a good observation post to the far landscape. Inches away from the observation post stands a nice rifugi (Huts along the Dolomites ways). They made sandwiches with some unconventional animal's meat. The feeling of standing in the summit while cold winds blow and good warm meat sliding downhill your throat is simply heavenly. A mutual feeling between me and Dafna...so we bought another one.
The Summit's view.
From the summit there are two options to go downhill. One
way is shorter, less challenging equally impressive. The second way is
challenging but the scenery is way better.
Dafna dragged me to the second way which in my taste was a bit too dangerous
considering we didn't have the right equipment. There are several parts that
the walk downhill (or should I say downhill climbing) is rocky, very very
steep, the cliffs ends within inches from your leg and finally the only
things that help are iron bars attached to the mountain. And this is why you
should learn from my mistake and bring a rope (like everyone except us
brought).
As you can see, luck was on our side and I'm here to tell the tale.
The most challenging part. Notice the people that climb downhill. (Left top
corner)
Cortina's Center
Since the trek started early we finished it relatively
early too so there is time to enjoy the city. We took the same bus line to
the City. The city holds no more than one interesting building, which isn't
really that interesting. Nevertheless the city is charming and the atmosphere
is great.
Cortina's center is very lively. The buildings look is unique which is more
typical to Italy's neighbors - Austria. Between the tourists and the locals
you will spot the conservative locals. They dress in funny clothes that
looks right for the 15th century. There are many stores in the main street.
The clothes shops are funny as well since they sell modern and the
conservative clothes side by side.
Cortina's main street
Strolling about a hour and half we noticed our bellies
calling for some food. We made a smart move and took a turn to the some
alley. The restaurant we found was the best we had in the trip and the cheapest too.
Unfortunately I can't remember it's name. As a gnocchi
fan I couldn't complain - The softest gnocchi I ever had.
Satiated, content, and tired we went back to the hotel in a cab (since the
bus stopped working)
Day Summary
This day was mutually declared the best day in the whole trip. The trek was amazing and Cortina city was a delightful desert.