Holiday within a holiday

OK, we haven’t blogged for a while. We were afraid that our cycle-touring cred may have taken a bit of a dive during our recent exploits.

Here’s a little snapshot of our oh-so-indulgent, side trip to the Alps.

The setting

Italy: Milan, Aprica and ‘La Baita’ (a renovated stone farmhouse in the mountains where shepherds once lived while their flocks grazed on the summer pastures)

Switzerland: Soglio, a quaint mountain village where shepherds still graze their herds and a mini industry of chestnut based products flourishes

The players

Italia: Diana, Tito, Kate, Gulio and Franci (Ali’s aunt, uncle and cousins), the associated extended family and Lottie & Skip (the dogs)

Switzerland: Steve & Ingrid (now husband and wife), Steve and Ingrid’s families, Kim and Emily and associated wedding guests

The timeline

Fly into Milan and stay a few days

Rent car and drive to Aprica in the Italian Alps

Drive to Soglio via St. Moritz for Steve and Ingrid’s wedding

7 days in Soglio

Drive back to Aprica

Several days in the Baita

Cycle from the Baita to Como, then train to Milan

More days in Milan

The Highlights

Italia

Being spoilt by Diana, Tito and co in all three of their houses and being adopted into their family

Having a good grounding in life in Italia

Relaxing at the Baita

Drinking espressos and eating zugoiny

Dinners with up to 20 guests at the baita

Indulging in Italian wines, cheeses, meats, pastas, pizzas, coffees, etc

The 120km ride through the Alps and alongside the ‘Lake of Como’

Morning breakfasts at café Biffi

Soglio

The wedding, which to be fair, really encompassed the entire week of festivities

Walks through chestnut forests

Day trip with Kim and Emily to Chiavenna

The creation of ‘Warm Storm’ the folk-rock-cover-band-trio of Steve (g-tar), Ali (violin) and Andrew (flute)

Nightly cookups with wedding guests

500

Stealing wifi from Stua Grande

Getting a double grande while playing Bolivian yahtzee imported by Kim and Emily

Aprica and Baita

Milan