Liberta in Agosto!!!!

What happens when you give blocks to adults who haven’t played with them since they were in preschool….

Good times!!!!

Amanda and Rosie – the Tutino Sisters!

Zeno’s birthday turned out to be quite the day!
In the morning, he set off straight away to talk with the lawyer about contracts and building projects that are taking place in La Caletta – that boy knows how to CELBRATE!!!

Meanwhile, back at the house, David and Amanda concocted a marvelous plan to make it possible for Zeno to climb the second longest “Via Ferrata” (A climb pre-outlined with iron cables in which the climber secures himself with harness and carabineers). At the time, it must be confessed, Amanda didn’t realize it was the second longest in Italy nor did she realize that it is not slightly strenuous, but VERY strenuous.
Thus, upon Zeno’s return from the lawyer, and once the plan was approved with enthusiasm, we set out in search of the proper safety rigging required for the climb.

On our way out the door, we bumped into a young Czech couple who’d been touring Italy by car up until that morning, when their car broke down on the street outside our house. Da, da, da, duh, da, Duh!!! To the rescue! Zeno didn’t hesitate to help a group push their car to a safe place on the side of the road and then bring them along with us so we could find a capable mechanic… the search turned out to be somewhat more challenging than we anticipated. In the end, we came home with the safety gear for climbing, an appointment with the mechanic for the next morning, and two extra dinner guests! Dinner was seafood in honor of Zeno’s birthday – our poor Czech friends resorted to poking each dish as it was set on the table to make sure nothing was alive… but, in the end, discovered that they do enjoy seafood (though not all of it). It was a lovely dinner, very special, and in a scenic restraint overlooking the bay of Lerici. Spectacular, and both Zeno and David were in their glory with all the seafood treasures being offered them! YUM!

The Via Ferrata

With excitement, and rubbing quite a bit of sleep out of our eyes, we were up bright and early for our adventure in the Alpi Apuani. The day turned out to be a scorcher. Plenty, and I mean PLENTY of water was the prescription for the day!

All rigged up with every sort of safety gear, Zeno and David set up the mountain.


At first I was a bit envious as I watched them climbing their way up… then, as I began comparing the little specs that they became in contrast to the sheer rock mountain… I very happily began winding my own way down a calmer and more refreshing trail. I even found a lovely place to stop to eat my sandwich, write a letter, and take a little nap! Ahhhhh… now that’s refreshing!




The climb began at around 10:45... I didn't meet up with a very worn out set of climbers until around 6pm!!! Great job! ...Though, next time I think Zeno and I will read the guide books a bit better and hopefully have some better training under our belts... Zeno's quads were burning for about three days post climb!!!



It was a gorgeous day. The old goat and farmer's lodgings looked very picturesque against the blue sky filled with puffy clouds and the surrounding rocky landscape.




Success!!! They made it down safely completely intact! Now... how to find our way to the Rifugio where we're supposed to be spending the night...



We arrived at the Donegani just in time for dinner! We washed some of the encrusted salt from our sweat off of our face, arms and hands and joined the other lodgers for a well earned supper. Mountain food always tastes out of this world!
The Rifugio itself was so sweet! Clean, comfortable, family owned. All the staff as well as the boarders were friendly and talkative. They even offered Zeno and I to come work on staff if we ever had the chance! That just might end up happening some day ( =

After a breakfast of homemade jam and toast with fresh butter and a tall cafe-latte, we set off on our hike from the Rifugio. Destination: Pizzo d'uccello! Which I thought sounded like "Pizza d'uccello" which would be translated as: "The Birds' Pizza"! I was all in wonderment about what kind of pizza the birds make on the peak of a mountain... We'll see!






Wild mountain blueberries (or bluebabies as we now call them thanks to the influence of our niece) and rasperies! We had just enough to make us wish we could stay all day and pick them. But alas, we must push on!

We found Zeno's favorite color streaming through the elm leaves - grean leaves when the sun is shining through them!

We discovered that we can go in any direction we wish and still end up at a legitimate destination... it was a windy day! We made it to the peak!!! And, unfortunately, I discovered that the birds weren't making pizza that day. So, we'll have to make a return trip in order to experience the Pizza D'Uccello. At the top, I learned that climbers come from all over the world to make it to the very peak we were standing on!!! However, they make their ascent from the North Face, we'd made ours from the South... but the final destination was the same! How cool is that?




Until next time!!!!