Mount Grappa

Ciao, everyone!

This past weekend, I decided to spend my time in home sweet home, Paderno del Grappa. The weather here is absolutely beautiful -- ranging from the mid 70's to low 80's for the past week and a half. The skies have been clear and a hint of the Italian Spring is definitely in the air! Although I have so much going on with projects, papers, and upcoming finals, I managed to make the best out of my last weekend in my Italian home.

Saturday, my friends Jodi, Liz, and I sat outside on the CIMBA park benches in the sun and did homework. No one was there to distract us or bother us. There was only the sound of nature, a sound so relaxing that words could not do it justice. Later that afternoon, the three of us took a nice long walk throughout Paderno, saying a short "see you later" to all of the places we won't be able to revisit before our departure. It was sad, but soaking up the beautiful sunset with great friends kept the spirit alive.

Sunday was also quite a productive day, but in a much more physical sense. The beautiful mountain range I have looked at every day from my window for the past three months was finally graced with my presence. An American professor here at CIMBA offered to drive myself, Liz, and two of my hall-mates, Ashely and Keith, up to the base of the mountain for a Sunday hike! Thrilled, we jumped on the offer. Without a ride, the walk to the base alone would take two hours! So, bright and early Sunday morning, we all showed up, eager to face the challenge.

We arrived at the base of Mount Grappa around 10 a.m. that morning. Already captivated by the beauty of the sight, it was hard to pick just one trail we wanted to do. They all looked so beautiful; however, because it only recently turned warm, many of the advanced trails were still shin-deep in snow fall from the weeks before. Our professor suggested route 155, a route he and his wife take often and recommended as a good, intermediate trail. We, too, decided that it seemed like the best option. So we exchanged cell phone numbers with our professor, waved our goodbyes, and headed up the trail. Look on and follow our hike, too!

Our trail markers. Hidden in bushes, painted on rocks, buried beneath fallen rock don't make for the best trail markers...but it's the thought that counts.

The beginning steps...

A view from about mid-way.

Almost to the to! Well, kind of. It looks close here, but it took another 45 minutes after this picture was taken to get there!

The rocky trail. No such thing as woodchips in Italy! The rocks clinked together like the sound glass. I wouldn't want to fall on those babies!

The view from midway, looking back.

A view of the other brother and sister mountains from the top. You can see the snow!

I made it! Somehow, this was the only pose I could do to show off how proud I was.

A tunnel from World War I when the Italians retreated. There is a monument on the top of a brother mountain of Mount Grappa in remembrance of a great battle that took place on Mount Grappa during the war. The monument stands for all those that fought and died; these war tunnels are preserved for the same reasons.

All of us after the hike in the beautiful Bassano del Grappa where we were treated to gelato and cold water.
From left to right: Liz, Me, Ashely, Keith.

The view from the top of Mount Grappa was unlike anything I have ever seen before. The pictures surely don't do it any justice, but the feeling of reaching the top after changing altitudes multiple times and being thousands of meters high...there was no greater feeling. My butt and calves were sore for three days afterward, but it was worth every single step. If I had more time in Paderno, I would definitely make hiking Mount Grappa a weekend activity. Sounds crazy, but it was that rewarding.

Only one week left in Italy. I cannot believe how fast the time has flown by. It seems like only yesterday I was lugging two huge suitcases through train stations to find my new home. Tonight, I am spending my last Friday night in LaSalle 134. A bit bittersweet it is. I will miss you Mount Grappa. But I can assure you -- we will meet again.

Until Next Time --- Ciao!