Candy, Candy, Snoep

It was a magical Hallowen for the Durneys. Jude had his Harry Potter costume picked out since our summer trip to "Diagon Alley" in York - easy. Maeve, in her current fickle state had a number of things she said she wanted to be leading up to the big event. Unicorn stuck though! In lieu of a souvenir from the Dolomites (we didn't spend any time shopping there), we picked up helium balloons for the kids at the airport on arrival. They are always asking for these things when we pass through the airport so we knew they would be winners. And they complimented their Halloween costumes quite nicely. 

Casting a spell to make it fly 

We were joined by Gabriel and Faris and all headed into the city by tram to participate in the Oud Zuid trick or treating on the 31st. Always such a nice event and fun running into friends on the calmer younger kid side of Beethovenstraat. 

Oma and Opa got to come and we appreciated the extra hands as it turned dark downtown! 

Waiting for the tram

The following night was ISA's trunk or treat. We were all a bit beat from the night before, but we knew it would be a fun event so we rallied. I'm not volunteering with the USA reps this year after work picked up, so I take no credit, but it was really well attended with lots of fun activities for the kids. Thank you to all!

Maeve and her teacher, Pipi.

Since Halloween I have been finding ways to make the candy disappear. The kids fussed about their candy for 2 days afterwards then I put it up in a cupboard and they forgot all about it! Luckily, St. Martin is shortly after Halloween so we could give away some more of it tonight! The kids were excited, having created their lanterns at school. We set out with neighbor Cora to visit some houses on our block and it just started pouring. And then hailing. And then Maeve slipped on wet leaves and we were ready to call it a night! A few groups of kids passed by so we got to hear their singing, but now I'm sitting in the dark praying they won't ring the bell and disrupt bedtime!

Intrepid St Martin goers!  

Before the rain/hail

Last Day in the Dolomites!

On the last day of our getaway we wanted to take advantage of the full sun and the mountains, two scarcities in the Netherlands! We went on two hikes from Castelrotto to start the morning. The first was around the small forested hill near the center of town that was advertised as a romantic stroll. Not so much when it is taken over with some sort of boy scouting expedition and there are hundreds of kids, adolescents and adults dressed in grey military wear yelling at each other in German. It was rather unsettling! We rushed back down the hill! 

From town we set off on hike number two, to Siusi via St. Valentine church. My opportunity to get up close and personal with the cows (no longer toting cow bells though)!

I loved the barns and wood detailing in the countryside. 

Beautiful day for a stroll! 

Dramatic setting for a charming church

The church was closed, but we appreciated the painted exterior and then it was noon and the church bells and others down in the valley all start chiming!

We bused from Siusi back to our town to retrieve the car. We drove to Volser Weiher, which was a nature reserve just beneath the Schlern mountain. We followed signs for a 45 minute hike to another hutte- Tuffalm. It was straight up to reach this alpine meadow, but we were well rewarded with out final Tirolean lunch and beers. 

Auf Wiedersehen Castelrotto! 

On the Tuffalm

It was sadly time to leave the glorious meadow as we had to drive to Innsbruck, where our flight would leave the next morning. We wandered around the hutte looking for the trail back and were most surprised to see this guy! In addition to a great playground up there, there was also a petting zoo! 

That was unexpected! 

Goodbye Dolomites! 

More beautiful sites along the drive back 

Having been to Innsbruck for a week three years ago, we didn't build in any time to see the city, but did enjoy the outdoor concert near our hotel, which was part of National Austria Day (like our 4th of July- when they gained back their independence after WWII). Pete could definitely have been a member of that boy band!

The newest member of Zweikanalton (I really liked their music!)

The concierge told us we'd have a hard time finding a table at a restaurant given the holiday and many places being closed, so we ordered take out while binging Money Heist.

Goodbye mountains and sun, time to get home to our kiddos! 

Heavenly Hiking in the Alpe di Siusi

The big draw of the Dolomites is that is boasts Europe's largest alpine meadow (or what we later learned is called an Alm). The meadow is usually accessible and serviced by dozens of gondolas and chair lifts, but being the low season, only two were open. So we took the bus 10 minutes from town to the Alpe de Siusi gondola station, bought tickets and hopped right in!

Up we go! 

Every morning at breakfast, the hotel gave us a printout of the daily activities and recommended hikes. Their guided hikes all left at 8am and lasted all day, which we decided was a little too intense for our relaxing getaway. Instead, we followed one of the recommended hikes, which took us to two different huts with awesome mountain views in all directions. Whereas the day before it was really cold at the alpine pass, on the top of the meadow in the full sunshine, hiking up hills, it was hot! The cold beers were very welcome! 

The mountain peaks on the right are the Schlern

It turned out this was not the correct way down to the first hut, but it was such a beautiful detour! 

More of the European Larches, up close and personal! 

Saltner Hutte

Real life??

Discovering the bliss that is Tirolean Speckknoedel Soup (Bacon dumpling soup). 

Fueled and ready for our 45 minute hike to the next hut.

If you go in the summer, the meadow is apparently filled with wildflowers. We were happy to see these guys remaining! 

Views now of these magnificent mountains

Before our descent to the next hut, we found a spot in the clearing to renew our vows, what I'd asked for as an anniversary gift. Our wedding vows were generic. These were personal. 

These flags were welcome sites. They meant that a hut was open for business! 

Laranza Hutte

In the summer months, the meadow is full of bell-ringing cows. Sadly they were down to pasture already in Castelrotto, though it did make for a much quieter day!

One final 45 minute hike to the far end of the valley where a bus shuttled us back to the gondola station. 

Bus back to the hotel and straight to the spa to watch the sunset. We also took advantage of the ground floor indoor spa, which was a bathing suit free zone. When in Italy!