| :: End of Summer 2016 :: |
Trek 2016 Joe has been busy with his doctorate and we have been preparing to move Zaven to the Netherlands but we still wanted to get in a short trek. Rifugio Bertacchi | Valchiavenna | Monte Spluga On the border of Italy & Switzerland 14 & 15 August 2016 Day 1 It only took us about an hour and a half to arrive to the rifugio. It was hopping being the eve of Ferragosto. We met tons of nice people and Luigi the guy who runs the place is super nice. |
| Rifugio Bertacchi is on the shore of Lake Emet at 2175 meters 14 August 2016 And the first thing we encounter, on the trail, is a very poisonous snake. Eeeek. |
| After arriving, having lunch we rested on a sunny rock |
Day 2 Heading off to make a loop back to the car. We thought it would take us 3 hours but in true Leonetti fashion it took us 7 hours. 15 August 2016 |
Joe standing in Italy, adjusting his backpack in Switzerland Italian -Swiss Border |
Not only did he save my life, he snuck Ritter Sport into his pack. So I survived and had chocolate. Joe is the best! |
And then we got to the crest of Pizzo Spadolazzo at 2720 meters. I have been higher than this, but this peak was almost a perfect point, with vertical drops on either side. One gust of wind. One shaky bad knee. I had a little panic attack. We had to get across this peak in order to get down. I wanted to turn back and was shaking and crying. Joe came and rescued me. Here I am squeezing the life out of him. Grateful for my brave, patient and sure footed husband. |
The Leonetti Post Trek Victory Pose 7 grueling hours 3.5 up and 3.5 down, down, down and here we are. Mr & Mrs Forrest Gump |
| "Zaven wanna come out of your trek semi retirement and go on a day trek...you will miss the Alps when you are in the Netherlands." Weirdly we had been here exactly 7 years earlier. To the day. 19 August 2009 - we had been doing a longer, 4 day trek, and had stayed at Rifugio Figari Genova I only realized it when we were driving to the trail head and I consulted our map. Another weird thing. That day we unknowingly took a photo with a UFO in it. (scroll down) Zaven proposed that our chips, that the aliens had implanted, had a 7 year lifespan and expired on that day so we had to return for a new chip. 19 August 2016 Entraque, Cuneo, Piemonte, Italia Alpi Marittime My heart is a little sad as we will be moving Z to Holland next week. We have been squeezing every second out of everyday with him. It was wonderful to spend time at the vacation house, doing this trek, visiting Omar's tree, going to the Nut Festival in Cortemilia and the wine festival in Roccacerano. I think Zaven will need a rest when he gets to school. Zaven and I fly up on the 30th for his orientation days and then Joe will drive up on the 1st with his stuff. |
Vaarwell Zaven 30 August - 3 September Groningen, Netherlands After 3 trips to Ikea, we got our boy settled into his new home. He is sharing a flat with four other students - two Germans - one studying international law, the other studying international business and two Dutch students - not sure what they study - is making messes and not cleaning up after yourself a field? Here Z is on the newly purchased granny bike. This town has more bikes than cars. You really can't get around well or safely without a bike. |
| " Groningen is darling. Full of international students - a huge college town - international food and very nice Dutch people. Zaven's room is a 5 minute bike ride from school and the center, a 5 minute walk to the train station and 3 minute walk to the grocery story. We didn't find one junkie or yuck area after spending 5 days there. We really couldn't have chosen a better town for Z to live in for the next 4 years. |
One way ticket from Milan to Amsterdam Two hours on the train from Amsterdam to Groningen 30 August 2016 Z and I flew up and Joe followed with a car load of stuff on the 1st of September. Our last weekend in Milan 27 August 2016 We ate a lot. |