Always Remember (or is it Never Forget)

Sunday 2nd August 2026 - Rome

 Today the barista knew I was Australian.  I think his "G'Day Mate" was intentionally bad.  His coffee art wasn't bad though...

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Saturday 1st August 2026 - Rome

 It's early and it's already hot.  We decide to walk a local market to see what's available.

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Friday 31st July 2026 - Leaving Hotel Meldoia del Bosco

Everything about the hotel was top class except Cathy thought the hair dryer was a toy.  Her hair dryer in Bright is modelled on a retired 747 Jet Engine.  It even wakes me up.

We joined the Spritz Club.

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Thursday 30th July 2026 - The Famous Sellaronda (anti-clockwise)

 Cathy headed off early (still very hot out there) to do the Sellaronda in reverse from Monday.

Cathy on top of Passo Sella

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Tuesday 28th July 2026 - Pedaru and Ziplines

 David had a day off the bike.  Cathy did a ride with Sabine and Garun to Pedaru.

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Monday 27th July 2026 - The Famous Sellaronda (clockwise)

An early start to try and beat the heat.  Unfortunately, Sabine's gears went into crash mode, and David got a flat rear tire.

Fixing a puncture is NOT faster on an eBike

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Friday 31st July 2026 - Moving Day to Rome

Well, we almost didn't leave.  On Monday, we asked the hotel to book us a transfer to Balzano to catch our train to Rome.  No problem.  The booking came through.  A request for payment.  A receipt arrived.  All good.

On the day, a no show.  15 minutes late, I ask the hotel to check with the taxi company.  Ahhhh, we had booked for 31.08.2026!!!!  I didn't notice, neither did anyone else.  

The taxi company sent someone.  It's 88km, expected travel time 1h50m.  Fortunately, it all ran smoothly from there.  Five hour train trip to Rome.  Our hotel transfer arrived promptly.  It was a relief to get there with all our luggage.

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Thursday 30th July 2026 - Tandem Flight

 On Tuesday, David saw a paraglider in the air and tracked down the office.

The Office

No flights available Tuesday or Wednesday.  Fortunately, Thursday is OK.

Landing Paddock looking South to Passo Gardena

Launch at Vallon 2500m

Alex and David.  Climbing.  Passo Campolongo on the right.

The big surprise - heading to the break in the wall on the left

Threading the needle

Amazing adventure's dont come any better than this.

Close to landing in Corvara

Very lucky to have a thermal flight up and over the plateau surrounding Piz Boe.

Wednesday 29th July 2026 - Passo Campolongo

Garun decided on a huge ride called Passo Giau - 100km and 2900m of climbing.  Stifling heat, very steep climbs (9% for 9km), uummmm...How about NO!!

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Sunday 26th July 2026 - Passo di Valparola

David picked up his ebike from BreakOut Corvara.....

Corvara - Looking North West

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Saturday 25th July 2026 - Hotel Melodia del Bosco

After a long transfer from Bormio to Badia, we arrived at Hotel Melodia del Bosco.

The driveway (aka Passo Melodia) is steep!!

The view from our Panaramic Room window.

Saturday 25 July 2026 - Hotel Funivia

It was moving day from Hotel Funivia.  A big thanks to Daniele and Elisa for their exceptional hotel.  Cathy and I throughly enjoyed our time which seemed to go so fast. We are already planning to return next year.

The upgraded Hotel Funivia

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Friday 24th July 2006 - Bormio 2000

Left out the front door, 200m then right - you are on Bormio 2000, a 9.1km climb at an average of 8.1%.  However, these also a gondola...

Cathy after riding her bike

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Thursday 23rd July 2026 - The Bernina Express

 Very easy start today - Downhill 40km from Bormio to Tirano.  And then we jumped on a train to go uphill.  A very special train, the Bernina Express, goes to our destination - Ospizio Bernina. At 2,253m it marks the highest point of the Bernina Railway, surrounded by snowfields, lakes, and dramatic Alpine terrain.

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Wednesday 22nd July 2026 - The Gavia

David decided to have a mini day and only go to Santa Caterina.  That's where he made a perfect 3 point landing, elbow-hip-knee, and left a layer of skin on the cobbles.  Ouch.  Mini distance, maxi hurt.  Cathy came with me whilst I washed off in the fresh mountain water.

Cathy's alcoholic coffee

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Tuesday 21st July 2026 - The Tour of George

Or more precisely, "The History of Bormio" with George.  

Firstly, the safety briefing. Ride on the right. Single file. Stay safe. "Watch out, sometimes crazy people in Bormio".  Then he looks at me and waves his finger.  HaHaHa - I was already looking at him and waving my finger!!

George

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Monday 20th July 2026 - The Stelvio

Cathy and Sabine had a wardrobe meeting over breakfast.  QOM Jerseys for the Stelvio. David and Garun had an extra coffee!! Laurie has been guiding at Hotel Funivia for many years.  His expert guidance and local knowledge helped us up the Stelvio.

David, Cathy, Garun and Sabine

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Sunday 19th July 2026 - Moving Day (aka Adventure Day)

Check out of the Glam Hotel.  It's just a short walk to Milan Centrale where we bought our tickets.  We decided on trains only to Tirano, rather than having to use a bus.  First stop, Girabaldi Station.  The lift was boarded up, so it was a lift and carry our luggage down the stairs.  It's a forty minute wait until the platform for our train to Lecco was announced.

AT least Garun could do some shopping.

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Saturday 18th July 2026 - Milan

We got up early, jumped on the Metro to visit an historic bit of Milan. 

On the Metro with my new T-Shirt

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Friday 17th July 2026 - Milan

After picking up my new passport, we went for a walk to Duomo to do the Terrace walk. 

And it was hot!!

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Wednesday 15th July 2026 - Italy

David left Bright around 9am to drive to Skypark (near Tullamarine).  Cathy Ubered over from her Mum's place.  Qantas accepted our luggage all the way through to Rome.  The trip to Perth is about 4h, then a 3h wait for our plane to Rome.  It's a long one at over 16h.  We threaded our way between the Iraq War, and Ukraine Russia.  

Now you know it's Italy

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Monday 29th September 2025 - Mont Blanc

 Cathy was told "You must do Mont Blanc".  Maree wanted to walk it.  We ended up catching a bus from Annecy to Chamonix.  Then the cable car up to Aiguille du Midi.  That's 3,842m (or 12,602ft)!!  It was high enough that you could feel the lack of oxygen.

The day itself was spectacular.  It was a nil wind day with no cloud.  Truly amazing.  The pictures do not do it justice.  Make sure it's on your bucket list.

They built a lift inside the mountain to make it the last bit

You can see the small glass box hanging out the right side of the building..

Looking down into the valley

We watched paragliders launching from the snow

Even from the valley, the mountain looks spectacular

Saturday 27th September 2025 - Flyeo Tandem Paraglide

 Cathy and I did a Tandem Paraglide with Flyeo.  Alec and Cedric looked after us.

We had a slight weather delay was the launch was getting clouded in.

The launch was getting busy

But, eventually we got away...

Cathy even took the controls

Cedric will be ok after some counselling 🤣🤣

Friday 26th September 2025 - Annecy

 A bus this time (the train line was undergoing maintenance).  Cathy jumped off at Albertville and rode 40km to Annecy.  Our new apartment was in Old Annecy.  We were right where the action was - markets, shopping and an abundance of places to eat/drink.

Friday 19th September 2025 - Bourg-Saint-Maurice

 Another train trip, down to the French Alps and a small town of Bourg-Saint-Maurice.  There we met up with Michael, Maree, John and Jill.  Together we planned some cycling, walking and more French eating.