Our Italian Adventure begins

[Crankin]

Posting photos might have to wait until I am home. The Internet in our apt. is slow.
We spent all day yesterday eating, walking, and went to the palace royale and the archeological museum. Much more is open as far as stores go, although some small shops and many cafes are shut. Had 2 fantastic Piedemont style meals and the bottoms of my feet feel the walking.
Today we ate going to do the cog railway in a city park, with great views at the top, and then hike down. Tomorrow we are visiting all day with someone who works for DH here, up at their vacation home in the Alps, about an hour away. Monday is wine touring.

[Crankin]

The railway/hike was quite an experience.
It's on the outskirts of the city, but not too busy today, as Italians are all up in the mountains or in Cinque Terre. We got some stares, as we were in very casual outdoor clothes and mostly everyone else was dressed up. Some men in shorts, not
women. The ticket seller looked at us like we were absolutely nuts when we said we were hiking down.
The ride up was quick, about 20 minutes. We stopped in the visitor center, walked up to the Bascillica, and then found the trail. It was quite challenging, rocky with switchbacks in about one half of it. I have my light hiking shoes here and I made the mistake of wearing some Tekko running socks, instead of my hiking socks. My feet were sliding around and the constant descending did not feel good. Let's just say my hamstrings are feeling it! I think it was about 5k, with the last 1.5 on the sidewalk of a road that looked like one you would see on the Giro.
Tomorrow is the real hiking!

[Catrin]

Nice place to go for vacation, have fun! Looking forward to seeing pictures whenever you are able to post them

[Crankin]

Well, the last 2 days have been busy. The drive to the Alps was not far. To sum it up, we drove to our friends' condo, then went to Sestrierre and took the ski lift to the top of a mountain. That in itself was an adventure for me. It looked like Alp Du'Ez. We hiked down the ski trails, stopping for a picnic lunch our friends had prepared, complete with a tablecloth. Further down the trail, it became a paved road, where of course, there was a bar/restaurant. Had an espresso and some kind of liquor, supposedly good for digestion. Another 2k and we got to the village, where I bought a sweatshirt that is really a jacket. Saw lots of crazy downhill mt bikers and several riding up the roads. Then, back to the condo for beer, dinner, wine. I think the hike was 10-11k.
Yesterday we went to LaMorra and Barolo and had the most awesome tour of a family owned winery. Just one other couple and the woman giving the tour. We also had a little adventure trying to put gas in the car!
Today we are staying in Torino and shopping. I swear, I feel huge compared to Italian women. There will be serious food restriction when I get home... I haven't had so much pasta in years. Of course, we get home Sat. and leave Friday for 3 days in CA.

[Jolt]

I swear, I feel huge compared to Italian women. There will be serious food restriction when I get home... I haven't had so much pasta in years. Of course, we get home Sat. and leave Friday for 3 days in CA.

Wow...Italian women must really be tiny then, if you feel huge in comparison!! Yikes.

[Crankin]

Jolt, they are skinny with no muscles. You don't see women riding here, only as transportation. Well, just a couple, compared to lots of men. Same with runners. I think most exercise gets done by walking and in gyms.
We are in Milan now. I can't find any clothes that fit me. Pants are too skinny (and I wear skinny jeans) and too long and the dresses are huge. I don't know where the people I see buy their clothes.

[Crankin]

OK, here's the link to all of our pictures. Unfortunately, they aren't in any order or labeled, but they still came out well.
My favorite ones are the juxtaposiiton of what we saw when we went to the Armani Hotel cafe. It was written up as a "must go to" place in Milan. We got there around 5 PM, and it was quiet. There was one other couple (I think they were having a business meeting) and a family with 2 adult sisters, a very newborn (one-two weeks old, by my estimate), the grandmother, and husband having drinks, all looking very stylish as the mom interspersed her sipping her drink with visits to take the baby out to nurse, I think. Then, two men walked in with a dog. Not a teeny dog, as you sometimes see in the US, but a medium sized one. Dogs go everywhere in Italy, even restaurants. All of this, with a view of the Duomo from 8 stories up. When we left, there was a parade of very large, black cars bringing patrons to the hotel. They looked like people you'd see on the society page of a newspaper... enough to give me the creeps! But, the mojitos were were awesome and we were treated nicely.
I'd say my favorite 2 things were the visit to our friends and hiking in Sestriere and the winery tour/visit to La Morra and Barolo. I did buy 2 pairs of shoes and a leather winter jacket, with a wool lining. It's probably the most expensive piece of clothing I've bought, and it was about 40% discounted. I never found any pants or dresses that even remotely looked like they would fit me, though.
Of course, the eating was in a category of its own!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevema...57635222485923