Italian Dolomites & Tons of FIATS

[AgnessGP]

Just got back from Alta Badia, Dolomites for the 5th time and all I can say is I highly recommend either for skiing/walking in winter or walking in summer.

Trip was perfect. For anyone interested:

- We flew to Treviso using Ryanair (fine for 2 hours and with priority seating not a problem).
- From here, a 2 hour car journey (hire car).
- Once arriving in San Cassiano, we topped up our electronic skipasses online and picked up the skis we had pre booked for hire.
- The ski hire offered storage for free so no need to carry from apartment everyday (I imagine here they would probably charge £10 a day).
- we stayed in apartment Taela which offered a free skibus service from the door straight to the first lift, also where the ski hire was, spot on!
- they also offered free milk and bread for the week

What is still amazing is how they manage to clear so much snow without extensive equipment. All they used were normal ploughs and JCBs, though each apartment does seem to have its own 'mini' JCB.

Won't write too much, i'm not trying to sell this but I can highly recommend to anyone wanting to do anything different. Even doing nothing there is so much scenery to see.

A few of my own pictures below, also some from daily mail:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/a...a-Italys-South-Tyrol-serves-taste-skiing.html








Couple of videos from events:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBqRflD5Jb4&feature=youtu.be
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpAftwDUKmE&feature=youtu.be


Regarding FIATS. There were tons! Everywhere. In the mountains I counted around 20 first gen Pandas. The best was when we watched one successfully pull a FIAT croma up a snow covered hill!



Don't think this is available in England?



This post might be useless/non interesting but thought was worth sharing!

 

[The Beard]

It is as a Dodge Thingy. I saw one badged as a FIAT a couple of years ago in Italy. As a FIAT Freemont it would never sell over here because our cynical motoring press would just slag it out of existence.

As an aside, did you actually visit Treviso or just fly into and out of the country by the local airport? If not, I'd say it's worth a few days if you get the chance. Like a lot of Italian towns the place is full of the kind of buildings we'd have buried under an out of town shopping experience or multi-use light industrial/retail/residential development.

 

[AgnessGP]

Flew into venice Treviso airport but straight out into the mountains after. I was curious about Treviso though as it just looked all flat and full of vineyard like land (might actually be vineyards) and when I googled it, it looked quite a different place altogether. Maybe I was just seeing the outskirts?

 

[The Beard]

Don't forget that Venice and Treviso are two different places entirely. The only two things that connect them are that they are both in the Veneto and Ryanair try to tell you that you're landing at Venice when obviously.....you aren't.

I've only spent a short amount of time there, we drove out there from where we were staying near Venice, but thought it was such as nice place that we went back the next day. If you're looking for 19 year old girls who might have fairly loose morals, you know the kind of thing, fnar, fnar, firm young bodies, short skirts, drinking too much and having sex in the street or on the beach and, and, er, ahem. Sorry about that, but I think you get my drift.

 

[AgnessGP]

Seriously haha? Wasn't expecting that! From the pictures I've seen it looked the opposite. Is it a 'touristy' area?

I've been to Venice before, but was only 13/14 so I imagine I'd see it in a much different light now.

 

[s130]

Glad somebody else like the Dolomites.

We go every summer, up into the mountains. We drive down (with Caravan) and then motor tour from one or more bases. 1K miles down, 1k back and 1k enjoying the lovely mountains, scenery, roads, passes etc. Drivers, hikers, walkers dream.

For those that have no idea about what they are missing look and my wife's website. The galleries are by region as each region has something different to offer.

enjoy!

http://www.marmotta-photoart.co.uk/la_ital_index.htm

 

[(CZ)enda]

Regarding FIATS. There were tons! Everywhere. In the mountains I counted around 20 first gen Pandas. The best was when we watched one successfully pull a FIAT croma up a snow covered hill!

Yeah, I remember them from Northern Italy, too. They are mostly 4x4 Pandas (see the photo). I can imagine they are the cheapest 4WD vehicles you can get there. 4x4s are also the only surviving 1st generation Pandas where I live and still sell for quite serious money. I always adored this no-nonsense car, but unfortunately never owned a Panda.

 

[varesecrazy]

It is as a Dodge Thingy. I saw one badged as a FIAT a couple of years ago in Italy. As a FIAT Freemont it would never sell over here because our cynical motoring press would just slag it out of existence.


My son hired one in Germany recently - all FIAT badged.

As an aside, did you actually visit Treviso or just fly into and out of the country by the local airport? If not, I'd say it's worth a few days if you get the chance. Like a lot of Italian towns the place is full of the kind of buildings we'd have buried under an out of town shopping experience or multi-use light industrial/retail/residential development.

I stayed in SanPellegrino years ago and keep meaning to go back,
VERY quiet / picturesque,

thanks for sharing..,
Charlie

 

[ban1111]

Glad somebody else like the Dolomites.

We go every summer, up into the mountains. We drive down (with Caravan) and then motor tour from one or more bases. 1K miles down, 1k back and 1k enjoying the lovely mountains, scenery, roads, passes etc. Drivers, hikers, walkers dream.

For those that have no idea about what they are missing look and my wife's website. The galleries are by region as each region has something different to offer.

enjoy!

http://www.marmotta-photoart.co.uk/la_ital_index.htm

My complements to your wife, wonderful pictures I am envious,my photos never show what i see!
and with a bit of tongue in cheek if you happen to drive down the west side of lake garda, aprox 6 miles past lemone to the sp38 via bonaco up to pieve "parco del alto garda bresciano" the road it self which is short but amazing as it drives through gorges [not with caravan on tow you'll loose your roof] and at pieve park up walk into commune area views of lake garda are awesome from the bar overhanging the cliff edge.
Who knows you might well have already done it,but I saw no pictures and mine are pathetic.

 

[The Beard]

Seriously haha? Wasn't expecting that! From the pictures I've seen it looked the opposite. Is it a 'touristy' area?

I've been to Venice before, but was only 13/14 so I imagine I'd see it in a much different light now.

We go to the area quite a lot, although we didn't go last year and this year we're going to Northern Spain, but we usually stay in Lido di Jesolo whch is lively enough unless you like going to Ibiza or other places with lots of drunken girls and pools of vomit.

The thing about Jesolo is that it has a great beach which goes on for miles, it's safe and has plenty of bars. One of the things we like is that there's enough going on but you aren't likely to get beaten up by drunken Ukranians and if you're young enough there are beautiful young things everywhere, although you might have to learn Italian.

If you want to visit Venice then you just nip in to the nearest Tabacchi and buy combined tickets for the local bus to Punta Sabbioni and the Vaporetto across the lagoon. One of the benefits is that you can go at almost any time rather than have to take the Cosmos coach trip and follow the lady holding up the umbrella. Last time we went we set off at about 4 pm and spent the evening there. It was far quieter and although places like the Campanille was closing we could see parts of the city that otherwise would be hidden by people.

Also if you're good at spotting celebrities then the evening is the time to do it. Mrs. Beard got a nice complement from Gok Wan. He ignored me though. Mind you he was with a very close friend.

I'll try and post some photos tomorrow-ish.....if I remember.

 

[AgnessGP]

Yeah get some pictures up! Thanks for the tips mate, it's definately somewhere I need to return when money allows.

Gok Wan, strange character on TV, be interesting to meet in person. How did she manage to get a compliment, did you introduce her or something?!