Dolomites (Bolzano, Italy) via Verona

11-12 May 2017

We left Venice and drove to Verona, on our way to the Dolomite region of the Italian Alps.

"Verona is a major tourist destination in northern Italy, owing to its artistic heritage, several annual fairs, shows, and operas, such as the lyrical season in the Arena, the ancient amphitheater built by the Romans. Shakespeare set three of his plays in Verona: Romeo and Juliet, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, and The Taming of the Shrew. It is unknown if Shakespeare ever visited Verona or Italy at all, but his plays have lured many visitors to Verona and surrounding cities many times over."

The Roman Amphitheater, where entertainment is still staged amongst its ruins.  To the right, well maintained Verona buildings.

Ruins of the amphitheater on the left; on the right, closeup of the column outside the amphitheater.

Gerri standing next to reused Roman artwork - taken from ruins and incorporated into structures in the Middle Ages.  The usual narrow city streets, with lots of tourists.

Shakespeare set his play "Romeo and Juliet" in Verona, but there never was a real Romeo or Juliet, at least as portrayed by the play.  Below, a tour guide in the 1970's told the story or maybe suggested the possibility that this was the balcony of the story.  Now tourists flock here to check it out.

Bell tower with neat staircase -- statue of Dante of "Dante's Inferno".

Roman bridge - brought down by Allied bombing in WWII, but rebuilt, lifting the original marble Roman stones out of the river (the lighter colored ones).

Old town gate, with a local, a tourist (Gerri), and a beggar woman.

We then motored our way to the Dolomites and Bolzano, Italy.  A fort, or what have you, seen from the highway.  These are all over the place, from big to small.

In Bolzano, we met Ötzi (also called the Iceman, the Similaun Man, the Man from Hauslabjoch, the Tyrolean Iceman, and the Hauslabjoch mummy) is a nickname given to the well-preserved natural mummy of a man who lived around 3,300 BCE.  Hikers found him in 1991 in the Ötztal Alps, hence the nickname "Ötzi", on the border between Austria and Italy. He is Europe's oldest known human mummy, and has offered an unprecedented view of early Europeans. His body and belongings are displayed in the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology.

We toured the museum and found it really well featured, with plenty of English descriptions and very professionally organized.  Otzi was surrounded by all his possessions (as a wanderer) and they were nicely presented with much supporting analysis.  This was a welcome break from all the art museums we've toured.

Otzi himself was slumbering in a deep freeze with a viewing port for his visitors.  To the right is a recreation, from analysis, of how he may have appeared at time of death (minus his over-clothing) - a weathered man of around 45 years.

The photo below is from the internet, showing the state in which he was found, after recent glacial thawing in 1991.

We then rode the sky gondola up into some higher elevations of the alps.  This puppy was steep and fairly fast.

High country farming.  Alpine peaks peeking through the clouds.

  We were to walk maybe 4-5 miles of trails, and country lanes.  Amazing scenery.

Photographer's self portrait, inspired by Etcher.

Alpine high country road to the next town.

We crossed over the rail tracks, down into the meadow, through the woods, and up to an old church...where we did some geocaching.

And then were led by the trail to some very interesting geological stuff - erosion on grand display - pyramidi de terra (earth pyramids).  A bit of Dr. Suess again perhaps?

Back "home" to Bolzano.

Bolzano Cathedral - a Gothic design, started in 1184, expanded in the 14th century, and completed in the early 16th century.  Note the cool mosaic roof tiles.

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