The European Chronicles 2025.12 - Andiamo Italia!
What if we went to Italy...
We leave the National Park Lodge, always somewhat reluctantly, and head to Italy. Our next location is San Lorenzo di Sebato in Sud Tirol and the Dolomites. I've planned a route through the Eastern Dolomites that goes through some of the more famous areas, such as Tre Cime di Laveredo
Was really looking forward to this section in particular.
But...
Venire qui e stato un errore.
More on that in a bit...
Heading out
Welcome to Italia!
Purely advisory. 😎
We're heading "that a way."
So, why was this route a mistake?
For the first time, we encountered what can only be described as "over tourism." Our travels normally keep us off any well traveled path, but this time we were in the heart of it. There were electronic signs telling travelers that the parking areas were already full, long lines of hikers waiting on numerous buses, cars parked everywhere and traffic, oh so much traffic...and this was a Thursday morning.
Is it pretty? Oh, yes.
But ruined, and certainly not more breathtakingly beautiful than the other, less popular, sections of the Dolomites.
Full parking lots...public, restaurants and hotels...
So much traffic.
We eventually leave the traffic behind...yippie!
Quick lunch break...the clouds are building...
And we head off to find our next hotel, the Saalerwirt, a "yoga hotel," Krisanne's jam. 😎
Ouch! Guy looked ok; the bike, not so much.
Really wonder how that happened.
After a failed attempt to get petrol (even a local could not get the pumps to work...Italia!), we take this itty bitty road up to the hotel.
The Saalerwirt is three separate buildings (connected through an underground tunnel...seriously) with the yoga/spa/pool building up on the ridge.
Stunning view from the restaurant deck.
And from our room.
Including a private terrace.
With this view.
Sadly, no garage for Mia...time to break out the Geza cover. Come prepared. 😎. You HAVE to take care of the horse...
Multiple yoga rooms...classes every day.
Pool
And a swimming pond...
Stunning spa area upstairs, including a "cold plunge" pool. I can't do it...my legs go numb by the time I'm up to my knees... 😂. Krisanne, however, is starting to count the minutes...crazy woman...
Hiking too...
And a resident doggy...
Forza Italia!
Ciao!
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