Sad events…

Well… I’ve combined the more recent two days because there, unfortunately, was little action to be had. Yesterday I awoke, sore, tired but eager to conquer the final day of hiking. We had such an amazing plan, add a few kilometers to the beginning of the hike to complete the circuit instead of taking a shuttle to the trailhead in exchange for meeting the girls at the peak and taking the gondola back down to town. It took a lot of convincing, deliberations, and planning but we were set. As I joined the rest of the family for breakfast before our hike we chewed slowly and watched, with several other hikers, ominous clouds descending on our little valley. As the first few drops of rain began to patter on the windows Ben and I raced to beat the crowds to get ponchos.  With our enthusiasm waning as the rain picked up the first vote of desertion came after the first lightening strike. After that the rain came down in biblical portions with lightening and thunder scouring across the sky. The final nail in the coffin was the darkening clouds over where we were to hike 1500 meters up.. with heavy hearts we voted to cancel the last hike day, Billy goat Ben was disappointed but it was for the best. We took a transport to our last hotel and sadly as we arrived the weather was a blue bird sky after a recent light shower. 

Emily, dad, and I shuttled as Pamela, Ben, mom, and Bowie needed to get some laundry done. The three of us meandered sullenly around Cortina looking in shops and killing time until the others arrived. Our lunch in Cortina was an unforgettable experience. Dad, Emily, and I found ourselves seated at a fancy restaurant, one of only two occupied tables outside under an awning as the sky decided to put on a dramatic show of torrential rain. This eased our consciouses as we found out the gondola was not operational (which would have resulted in us adding 4 hours and a 1500 meter descent in the rain after hiking 7 hours…). 

Still, we had an incredible lunch. The restaurant had more wait staff than patrons, all of whom were flamboyant and charismatic Italians. Their energy and attentiveness made us feel like royalty.

From the moment we sat down, the staff orchestrated our dining experience with precision and flair. They recommended and brought out special wines and liquors, each introduced with a story or a joke, enhancing our understanding and appreciation of the local flavors. It felt like we were part of an exclusive tasting event, each sip and bite coming with a background of laughter and vibrant conversation.

The rain only added to the intimacy of the moment. Safe under the awning, we watched as the heavy drops fell. The rest of the soaked village seemed to blend into the background as our waiters entertained us with anecdotes and gestures, their passion for hospitality evident in every interaction.

We met up with Pamela, Ben, mom, and Bowie and spent the rest of the afternoon poolside, laughing and playing with Bowie. It was a riot. After a quick siesta mom and dad volunteered to babysit so we could take Pamela and Ben out to a nice dinner. It was another amazing experience. The evening promised elegance and exceeded our expectations. The ambiance was refined, with soft lighting that set the stage for a memorable meal.

We started with bottles of exquisite Italian wine, each sip revealing a delicious bouquet of Italian flavors. The waitstaff, was both professional and entertaining. The more we drank the more interactive they were. Ben was posing philosophical questions and I was storytelling. 

The five-star food was a feast for the senses. Every dish, from the antipasti to the dessert, was a masterpiece of flavor and presentation. We indulged in rich pastas, local game, and decadent desserts, each bite better than the last.

We swayed back to our rooms and crashed for the night. 

The next day was an early breakfast where we parted ways with the family. Emily and I headed to Lake Como, Ben and Pamela headed to Lake Garda and dropped off mom and dad at the airport. It was bittersweet. Our 6.5 hour drive was uneventful though beautiful as we wove through the Dolomites. We arrived late to Lake Como and checked into our chic hotel. We had a few drinks by the iconic lake and then went for a walk. 

Our luxurious stroll turned into a scene straight out of a horror film when Emily’s big toenail was ripped off in a freak accident. The opulent lobby, usually a haven of tranquility, erupted into chaos. As we were returning from admiring the botanical garden, a staff member, hurrying through her duties, accidentally kicked Emily’s foot at just the right angle. 

The sound of the collision was followed by a gasp from both Emily and the staff member. Emily went into brief shock, her face a mask of pain and disbelief and she started walking briskly away from the scene. Blood gushed from her toe, staining the pristine marble floor and evoking horrified whispers from onlookers. I caught up to her unaware to the full extent of the damage. As I looked down and saw the nearly avulsed toenail spurting blood I sprang into action. I directed the pale and woozy staff members to get a first aid kit.  I also convinced a shocked Emily to stop waking around trailing blood and sit while I gathered supplies. In order to not lose her toenail forever I needed to replace the avulsed nail back into the nail matrix. This was going to be very painful. I told Emily what I had to do and she nodded and bit down while I performed the maneuver and handled it like a champ!  I applied pressure, cleansed the wound, and wrapped it as staff looked on in horror at my bloodied hands. The apologetic staff unloaded a trove of medical supplies, most of which was useless, for me to use? Have? I’m not entirely sure. 

Once Emily was treated we hobbled out and continued our day recounting my heroic actions. 😜 The rest of the evening was filled with gelato and sunsets. Tomorrow we hope is to be more relaxing and uneventful.