The European Chronicles 2024.12 - To Karthaus/Certosa
Into Val Senales
We bid triste addio to Bemelmans Post and Collalbo/Klobenstein on a soon-to-be-rainy day. But first, holding vigil at breakfast for Edelweiss, Christian and crew.
It was such an unexpected pleasure to meet up again!
It's a relatively short ride that starts out dry but, like almost all our other transit days, soon turns wet. Heading out from the Bemelmans Bat Cave, Mia's home this past week; sooooo nice to have a garage, especially when it is wet. Bemelmans remains a favorite, and Collalbo is an interesting little community that offers great hiking, riding and a fun way into Bolzano, all right at your doorstep. The staff and service is top notch, great pool, great sauna, great food. We'll be back.
Unfortunately, the Relive app failed to record this ride...I'm thinking "user error" because I started it while I was inside the Bat Cave, so I'm guessing no signal there and it failed to start when I got into the open. Oh, well, lesson learned.
Our photo documentarian had no such problems...she's analog. 😂
Down through the vineyards...more to explore on our next time here! 😎
Flower boxes are a thing...everywhere in this region. So pretty.
And apple orchids...for some reason, TomTom took us through one on this itty bitty road, kinda fun and cool...waved to a few people that must have been thinking "what are these idiots doing here?" 😂
Started to rain shortly thereafter and, of course, there will be tunnels...
...and castles...
One way at a time...
Sculpture in a typical European roundabout... "enter the roundabout and take the third exit."
Cobblestones...lots of cobblestones...slippery when wet... 😂
Heading into the Val Senales...this is the valley where Otzi was found.
And we're at the Goldene Rose, a hotel Krisanne found through Inntravel, an organization that sets up "inn to inn" hikes. I stayed here one night in 2019 to try it out...fabulous, had to come back; this is a "greatest hits tour" after all. 😎
We're going to have to tough it out for a week... 😂
Sadly, no garage, but Mia does get "awning parking." Time to break out the cover...
Karthaus/Certosa (all the towns in this region have both Germanic and Italian names because the area used to be part of Austria/Germany) dates to 1326 when a Carthusian monastery was built here because it was so remote. It was abandoned in 1782; you can tour it today but tours are only in German or Italian.
Our view
Fridge stocked with the local red - Lagrein - excellent, and very little makes it out of the area. It all somehow evaporated that rainy Sunday afternoon...just doing our part to keep things local.
The Goldene Rose is a special hotel - they were recently awarded a Michelin Key, one of 107 hotels in Italy, and one of eight hotels in Sudtirol. A beautiful place with a great restaurant and sommelier; we're going to do an Italian wine tasting with him one evening; Alexander, he's in the blue suit.
Their wine cellar is literally across from the hotel entrance, in the basement of part of the former monastery.
That night's wine...excellent!! The top of the Valpolicella pyramid is Amarone; a Ripasso is its baby brother. Winemakers take the partially fermenting skins from Amarone production, add them to Valpolicella Classico and let them macerate for about 15-20 days. This adds more flavor, tannins, slightly higher alcohol and a bit of the "wow" factor normally associated with the more expensive Amarone. We thoroughly enjoyed it!
The time here is going to be such a struggle...
21 was today's choice.
Along the way we found several painted "trail stones," so cool!!
The red and white stripes show you you're on the trail.
Our post-hike reward.
Ciao!
Heading into the Val Senales...this is the valley where Otzi was found.
And we're at the Goldene Rose, a hotel Krisanne found through Inntravel, an organization that sets up "inn to inn" hikes. I stayed here one night in 2019 to try it out...fabulous, had to come back; this is a "greatest hits tour" after all. 😎
We're going to have to tough it out for a week... 😂
Sadly, no garage, but Mia does get "awning parking." Time to break out the cover...
Karthaus/Certosa (all the towns in this region have both Germanic and Italian names because the area used to be part of Austria/Germany) dates to 1326 when a Carthusian monastery was built here because it was so remote. It was abandoned in 1782; you can tour it today but tours are only in German or Italian.
Our view
Fridge stocked with the local red - Lagrein - excellent, and very little makes it out of the area. It all somehow evaporated that rainy Sunday afternoon...just doing our part to keep things local.
The Goldene Rose is a special hotel - they were recently awarded a Michelin Key, one of 107 hotels in Italy, and one of eight hotels in Sudtirol. A beautiful place with a great restaurant and sommelier; we're going to do an Italian wine tasting with him one evening; Alexander, he's in the blue suit.
Their wine cellar is literally across from the hotel entrance, in the basement of part of the former monastery.
That night's wine...excellent!! The top of the Valpolicella pyramid is Amarone; a Ripasso is its baby brother. Winemakers take the partially fermenting skins from Amarone production, add them to Valpolicella Classico and let them macerate for about 15-20 days. This adds more flavor, tannins, slightly higher alcohol and a bit of the "wow" factor normally associated with the more expensive Amarone. We thoroughly enjoyed it!
The time here is going to be such a struggle...
The next day, to shake off our hangovers, we went for a hike...lot's to choose from, right out the hotel door. Very, very well marked too.
21 was today's choice.
Along the way we found several painted "trail stones," so cool!!
The red and white stripes show you you're on the trail.
Our post-hike reward.
The Pillion POV
Next year: 90 days... 😎
Stay Tuned: Stelvio and Umbrial tomorrow. 😎
xxxxxxxx
