Over a year and 2½ continents later…..pain still there, and another loss!!

It has been way too long since I have updated my blog. 

I would like to dedicate this post to my brother-in law Terry; who passed away on June 27^th. 

He was such a magnificent brother-in-law.  Always giving me “Terry” leadership guidance on so many things in my life – big and small: from financial planning, to simple things like how to make a good cup of coffee while living in Rome, and everything in between.  And he had such a giving, selfless heart. He was always, putting everyone’s desires before his own.  And he did it with a humbleness that you rarely see with people anymore.    
 

I first heard this album when Terry, Vickie and I were driving up to Mammoth to go skiing.  Well Vickie and I were going skiing, and Terry was going snowboarding.  Anyways, whenever I hear Staind, I think of Terry:  

 

Dad - Not a day goes by that I don’t think about him.  I can’t believe it has already been a year and three months since he passed away.  I think this song by Offspring sums it up:

Offspring - Gone Away

Maybe in another life
I could find you there
Pulled away before your time
I can't deal it's so unfair

And it feels
And it feels like
Heaven's so far away
And it feels
Yeah it feels like
The world has grown cold
Now that you've gone away

Leaving flowers on your grave
Show that I still care
But black roses and Hail Mary's
Can't bring back what's taken from me
I reach to the sky
And call out your name
And if I could trade
I would

And it feels
And it feels like
Heaven's so far away
And it stings
Yeah it stings now
The world is so cold
Now that you've gone away

Since my last blog, my major adventures have included:

·         Moscow Russia (hence, the ½ continent) – yay, yay I know Moscow is on the Europeon side of the house.  J

·         Iceland

·         Tuscany Italy (Bagno Vignoni, Montalcino, and Siena)

·         Cinque Terre Italy

·         Ghana Africa

Rather than write a lot on these places.  I will just include a little bit of information.

Here is the link to the photos:

https://plus.google.com/photos/118086643884541631322/albums?banner=pwa&gpsrc=pwrd1#photos/118086643884541631322/albums?banner=pwa&gpsrc=pwrd1

MOSCOW -

Pleasantly surprised and less smokers – Wooohooo!!!!!

That is how I would describe Moscow.  We all have “ideas” of places we have never been before, some good, some bad, and sometimes a little bit of both.  Needless to say, my “ideas” of Moscow were a bit pessimistic before arriving. 

One of my first places to go was Starbucks!  Italians are not fond of this coffee so I was so stoked to be able to go to one in Moscow. When I walked in I thought, “Geez, just like Seattle Starbucks!”  J  Of course I got my supply to bring back to Rome with me. 

As the driver drove to the hotel I couldn’t help but notice a lot of the trees were painted white.  The driver explained to me that the reason that is done is to keep the bugs off of the trees!! 

Even though it was rainy and drizzly the day I saw them The Kremlin and Red Square were still amazing up-close.  

 

Many of the buildings in Moscow are marvelous! Very colorful, very unique.  Despite many of them looking like they came from “Candy Land” it is a very modern city with many high-rises,  and many modern buildings as well. 

 

 

        

 

 

ICELAND –

WOW!!! What can I say about Iceland?  It was everything I dreamed of and more.  I could totally live there!!  J  Our Mountain guide Katrin was so motivational.  She is a very petite woman with adult kids (you would not believe it if you saw her), but is in such amazing shape.   

 

 

Every day (of the week-long tour) we trekked.  It was physically very demanding, but was so worth it!! Some of my favs. were:  the Vatnajökull glacier adventure, the Blue Lagoon, Laki Volcano, and Vic Black Sand beach.

 

 

TUSCANY  (Bagno Vignoni, Montalcino, and Siena) -

Unfortunately I didn’t take any photos on this trip.  Even though the Hot Spring in Bagno Vignoni was nothing compared to the Blue Lagoon in Iceland, it was still very pretty.  The town was very small and cute and had a small Flea Market. 

Vignoni Montalcino was a larger town with lots and lots of wine stores.  The town is famous because of its “Brunello” wine.  Many people rave this is one of the best Italian wines.  Also in the town is the famous fortress.  And there is also a popular clock tower. 

Although I didn’t get to see a lot of it, Siena has more of a small city vibe - vs. the other two “towns”.  I did get to go to the Piazza del Campo.  This is the town square with many restaurants, street performers, and a beautiful gothic chapel.

 

CINQUE TERRE ITALY

 

A big thank you to Birgit and Pall from TrekGuyd http://www.trekguyd.com/ for making my trek from Riomaggiore to Portovenere so rewarding. 

 

They indicated this was the hardest of all their local treks and I believe it.  It took us seven to eight hours and I was very sore the next day.  I would have to say this area reminds me of the Amalfi Coast but with more places to go trekking and trail running. 

 

 

I am not much of a beach person (prefer the mountains), but have to say I really enjoyed being on the beach in Monterosso.  Following this, going on my own three hour trek along a step road and a back country trail I found was the perfect end to the day! 

 

I look forward to returning there next year for many more trekking and trail runs.

 

 

GHANA AFRICA (ACCRA)   

I wasn’t going to put my trip here in my blog.  But at the last minute I decide to. The reason – I have to give kudos to the natives and how tremendously friendly and hospitable they were to me!! 

I forgot my camera, but was able to take a couple of photos while I was there.  Here is one of a man playing the piano at my hotel.  

 

 

 

One of the things I found most mind-blowing is how the women can balance things on their heads and walk continuously while doing that.  I have never seen so many women with such excellent, excellent posture in my life! 

 

 

Besides how nice the natives were, I have to say I really enjoyed the food.  They eat a lot of spicy food, and that is one thing I miss about being back in the states; especially the spicy New Mexican food. 

 

 

 

Conclusion:

Of the places I have been so far I am torn between the Dolomites and Iceland being my favorite.  However, the Dolomites take 1^st place with Iceland coming in a close 2^nd – just because of the size difference in mountains. 

Although, I’m sure there are some great musicians from the Dolomites, I don’t know of any.    That being said, here is a song by Of Monsters and Men – they are from Iceland:

Of Monsters and Men - From Thinner

 

Dad and Terry, we miss you so much!! 

 

Italian Alps were waiting (again), had to get on my way!!!

Some of you may think it is overkill for me to make another blog about my on-going visits to the Dolomites.  However, if you are into the outdoors, you will understand.  If not, well at least you have some more beautiful pictures of the Alps and Ortisei. 

 












There is nothing like being up in the mountains; away from the hectic city life.  The calmness, the silence, and the enormousness makes you realize just how small you are in this world. 

I have been very lucky to be able to stay in Stuflesser’s B&B.  Stef and Christine have been very welcoming. Their B&B is very clean, the breakfast is wonderful, and you can’t beat the prices.  Here is their link:

http://www.salegg.com/

I was able to go cross country (cc) skiing during my January 18^th weekend visit.  No guide, just by myself and the trails.  I felt reasonably safe since it wasn’t in the backcountry (and the trails were groomed). 

I have to say I have really enjoy snowshoeing more than cc skiing in the Italian Alps.  Perhaps it is because this area is known more for its alpine skiers and not so much for cc skiers.  That being said, I was rather disappointed with the trails.  Not groomed very well.  And the specific trail I went on was mainly a big circle.  I suppose I was comparing it a little too much to the beautiful cc skiing trails in Washington state - where you have lakes, bridges, and streams along a lot of the trails.  Despite that, it still felt great to cc ski again!!!  But perhaps I will stick to snowshoeing here instead. 

 

 

The area is massive. And unless you live here, or have been here several times, it is probably best to have a guide. They know the area with their eyes closed shut.  And will take you to some of the most astonishing beautiful backcountry that “visitors” are not aware of.   

That being said, during my February 14^th weekend visit my guides from Catores were Willi (the first day), and Flavio (the second day). 

I believe Willi is the youngest guide of Catores - http://www.catores.com/cms/index.php?en_News.  Despite his young age, he is a very experienced mountaineer.  He loves leading foreign tours.  He shared with me the time he lead and climbed Mount McKinley, and what an epic time he had. 

 

 

He took me to Monte Rasciesa.  And the panoramic views are breathtaking.

April 6, 2014

I have been writing this last entry for sooo long now.  Every time I say I am going to sit down and finish it I don’t.  So I am cutting it short. 

 

 

The area Willi took me too was wonderful.  Not too brutal (as far as difficulty).

 

 

So the next day I was pretty stoked about Flavio taking me out.  Since I had gone the day before, I figured he would be nice to me (take me on a leisurely day of snowshoeing).  NEGATIVE!!!!  By the time we were finished, my body was sooo exhausted. 

Before we even began we had a one hour hike (perhaps a bit more) with all of our gear.  As we continued with our upward climb, I cursed at the buses that passed us with skiers inside.  It was then that I knew Flavio was not going to be lenient on me. 

 

 

The conditions were fierce; very cold and radically windy.  The sky was extremely gloomy and overcast.  Looking back, I believe we encountered getting hit with snow while we were in the backcountry.  To add to the terrible conditions, we were climbing to a higher altitude.  As we climbed, I could tell I had to breathe faster and deeper to get more oxygen in my body.  With the furious winds, there were a couple times I thought for sure I was going to fall down.  And no matter how hard I tried to keep up with Flavio I couldn’t.  He is a true mountain man!!!!

 

 

 

 

As the weather warms up, and the winter leaves us, I am incredibly melancholy.  I am making one more trip up there to get my last “fix” of the mountains and the snow for the season.  I am so thankful that Val Gardena received a huge amount of snowfall this year, and that there is still enough snow to go there one last time.  Like every time before I have no doubt I will have another epic trip!!!! 

 

“Your mountain is waiting, So.…get on your way!” - Dr.  Seuss

 

As always here is a link to the pictures from these few trips -   

https://plus.google.com/photos/118086643884541631322/albums?banner=pwa&gpsrc=pwrd1#photos/118086643884541631322/albums/5997552066151275633

And for all you music lovers out there I have added a few more tunes on here as well (the Music tab).  Good stuff – The Killers, Arcade Fire (sis Vickie’s request), Silversun Pickups, Weezer, Angels and Airwaves, The White Strips, and TV on the Radio.   

Cheers,

~Jerrie J