Cortina

Here we are in Cortina, the Aspen of Italy, but there are many differences. Firstly we rented an apartment for the month, so the boys and us have had lots of skiing. The first week was perfect, no one was here, the slopes were empty, though not alot of snow has fallen, they make plenty, and the runs were fine for us. The second week, just before Christmas day got busier and busier with Italians, and l am am told after new years eve they leave and the Russians come. I noted than in one of the pizzerias the menu was in Italian, English and Russsian.
Now the differences with Cortina and other famous ski places, to me is the quality of the shops and village, Cortina is very large and spread out, but there is a main street for pedestrians only and this is where the wild beasts of Cortina wander. I talk of course of the women but some men who cover themselves in furs, head to toe and parade up and down the street dropping in to galleries to see a Palladino, or Sandra Chia or to a bar or Enoteca to chat to other beasts. Hunter who by name mentioned his appraisal of them, in a question to me, dad why do all the people who wear furs have the same faces? We talk of orange faces, which have been surgically altered to become the beast, and the orange tablet or solarium lamps to give them their colour. These beasts don't ski, they wander in search of their own kind, though we saw one yesterday at the base of the ski slope, she was all white, a white woolen jump suit, with fur ankles and a fur ring hat, fur necklace and six inch high heals, along with the goldie locks hair and orange skin. I was so shocked to see this beast l actually had to walk over and have a good hard look. Others lie on the deck chairs that are out at the base of the slopes as their young ski the slopes.
The snow boarders, who l personnaly don't like alot, as they annoy me on the slopes, as l find it hard enough, don't dress up like the American boarders, to me to snow board is to dress up, and l still feel the best skiers wear fitted pants.
The boys have had two weeks of lessons and have moved through the classes and stages very quickly, they got their bronze badge and get their silver on Monday. Ewan has absolutely no fear and goes so fast straight down the hills, Hunter goes more for the 180, 360 degree turns and often is seen deliberately skiing backwards down the slope, he likes to finish off with a skid of snow flying in the air.
I do what l do, l feel that l look good, but like my golf swing l am sure if l saw a video l would be embarrassed. I do the blue and red runs, and had a go at the black runs last week, l got down one that has no name, just a number, 63 as it is a death defying run and brings fear to those who would dare mention it by name. I did it three times, cutting the snow Iike a butcher. This gave me the confidence to challenge a black slope that we can see from the apartment, it runs between two large rocks , l went up the chair lift three times, deciding each time to do the red instead , then l said no it ain't that steep go for it. l did , reached the edge and a vertical cliff of ice faced me, the angle of the chair lift and the slope are the same so it looks better from the lift. Still l was here and no turning back, l did the first, second turn, the slope was like an ice rink, the third l fell, muttering to myself to concentrate and cut the ice l lifted and hit the forth turn, my last turn, l fell, rolled and just could not stop, as l frantically put the stocks into the ice, l finally came to rest two thirds down, checking everything was there, and surprise surprise it was, l lifted and spead the rest straight down, the quicker l got off the better. l could feel the several dozen eyes watch me from the chair lift as l fell. I noted the slope was empty for some time afterwards. You may think me fool hardy, even suicidal, but it was a strange feeling, as if the hand of my brother pushing me over the edge, as he did so many years ago, making me fearful of black, and so l am often seen wearing colour.
Jayne is different she tackles the slopes in a mechanical, robotic manner, methodically doing turns down the slope, which can be annoying when you are behind her, as the turns are not even. But she gets there, though she has a few bruises from mishaps. The boys today got medals for some type of competition in their groups, Ewan l am proud to say came first, Hunty fifth, this is wonderful as Hunty normally always gets first, he did mention to me that he has lots of first awards at home for running, maybe speed skating is more for him, though the way he spins on the snow and ice, maybe it is ice dancing, he will be the first to do it to AC DC.
At the moment we are preparing for new years eve, we are staying here with Francesca and Dario and their son Dodo, there is enough food for thirty people, l did ask, as l find it difficult with many strangers, l am told it is only 10. Kim Foran who came to Bologna a couple of days before we came to Cortina, went off to Venice for the last 2 days, and is back at 6pm. Apparently they have got some bloke called Giorgio coming who is single and been whacked with the ugly stick till senseless, but l am told has a lovely personality, this meeting may give me some joy, as l know Kim. Kim has been a joy to have and is great with the boys, in particular Hunty who really likes being around her and Ewan shares his bunk room with her here.
Kim has just returned after a wonderful time in Venice, though she had to change hotels on the second night and got no sleep, she then was mis directed to the wrong train and ended up in the middle of no where with some buck toothed moronic 14 year old boy trying to take her iPad from her. She got away but somewhere in Italy is a town like Deliverance.
The winter tyres which l have mentioned before have proved to be a hugh success, the fact it is law to have them on, they allow me to tackle the corners well in the hills. The small negative is the slopes are all surrounding Cortina and you have to drive up to 40 minutes to each one, some are only 10 minutes. And so you need the confidence of tyres to grip the road as some idiot who most likely has a beast in the front seat, wanders across the road.
We were warned about the high costs of Cortina, but l must say l think it may be cheaper than Bologna, mind you as l have said before Bologna is very expensive. Though l am glad we went to Decathlon to buy all our ski clothing, helmets and goggles, as that place which is like a hugh Rebel is so good on price.
Visually Cortina is wonderful, rock peaks surround, with incredible formations, there is a colour in the rock that goes bright orange, much like the beasts faces in the morning as the rising sun hits certain peaks. I have been doing a few water colours of the peaks and snow scenes, much like the works l did from South Georgia and Whistler. I must say it is a joy to paint snow and the colours of snow, and the people skiing.
And so Cortina is well worth visiting, just to see the beasts, but if you just want to ski go to Whistler.

What do you mean there is no dolci

New Years Eve

Ewan with his friends

Hunter on the ventilator

Winter in Cortina

On top of the world

The perfect picture

Afternoon drinks

More "BEASTS"

 

A "BEAST"

 

The latest headwear in Innsbruck

 

At the summit