Ginger and Nutmeg chose the Italian Dolimites for some skiing in early March. They were able to schedule their trip just after the winter school break so the crowds were light. The problem was the snow was ‘light’ as well. So there was nothing but groomed trails, which suited Nutmeg just fine. They chose the resorts of Cortina and Corvara/Alta-Badia, as Ginger wanted to ski a couple of the classic Olympic and World-Cup pitches.
The Dolomites landscape is incredibly spectacular. One is struck immediately by the range of colours from pine forests and meadows to rocky spires and limestone walls (some of the highest in the world). In 2009, the Dolimites were declared a UNESCO Natural Heritage site and it is easy to see why as every viewpoint is more spectacular, than the last. This area is an outdoor playground all year round, attracting skiers, ski-touring, climbers, hikers, bikers and para-gliders, among others. There has been recorded climbing in the region since 1887.
Tags: Italian Dolomites, Skiing, Travel in Italy
This will be a short one on Alberta’s spring. Nutmeg moved to Calgary 17 years ago, Ginger had arranged with Mother Nature for a fantastic spring and even better summer that year. Since that time, Calgary and Mother Nature have ignored Ginger and completely tormented Nutmeg. Practically every year there is a deficit of snow for skiing in January and February, or it is too darn cold.
Tags: Travel Alberta, Travel in France
Ginger and Nutmeg are a bit distracted by our move from Aix en Provence to Eygalieres, so it is once again my turn for a bit of “air-time”. Here is my rebuttal to Nutmeg’s last post “Our Favorite things about Aix en Provence“.
I have never lived in a place quite like Aix en Provence. When I was a young puppy I lived in the woods in Vermont, and putting on a collar was a dress-up occasion. Then I moved to Calgary. Ginger came to pick me up in Montreal and took me on a long trip to that strange place (Calgary). We arrived and there was another dog who looked like me but she was not very interested in me. My roaming space much reduced, in fact it was a bit like a sardine can after Vermont. The good news is Ginger and Nutmeg made lots of trips to Canmore, where we could swim and run around like black Labradors do.
Aix en Provence is a place where I go for lots of walks but never go off leash. Nutmeg says it is because there are no parks. I think it is because of all the tempting scraps on the ground. We walk every morning up the famous Cours Mirabeau, it is lovely and often there are a few morsels of food on the ground from the restaurants along our way. It is possible Nutmeg might be right, the single park that is close to our house is locked on weekends.
Tags: Aix en Provence, Provence Travel, Things to do in Aix en Provence, Travel in France, Travel Tips with Pets, Travel with Dogs
Aix en Provence is often referred to as “Cezanne’s city”. It is hard to miss the “Steps of Cezanne” emblems on the sidewalks of Aix, these symbols lead tourists to some of the more famous sites for Cezanne. The problem with looking at your feet to follow the little emblems, is you might miss some of the sights along the way. Nutmeg could fill a book and several photo albums to really describe this city. Aix en Provence has a long history (founded in 123 BC) as a centre built over hot springs or “thermes”. Aix is a student town, tourist town, the official centre of the 13th department of France.
Tags: Aix en Provence, Provence Travel, Things to do in Aix en Provence, Travel in France, Travel Tips with Pets, Travel with Dogs
