.. exploring beautiful places at home, in the Alps or far away
This island of Burano is really worth a visit. It is about 40 minutes away from Venice by water bus. The houses on the island are all very colorful and the town has a relaxed atmosphere. We really enjoyed walking along the canals. You can also see the skyline of Venice. Burano is also famous for its laces, they are still made there and you can learn about it in the local museum.
In September 2014 we decided to spend New Years Eve this year in Italy! So we were looking for a good train connection and found a night train to Venice! We have been in Venice before, but only for one day, and we thought it is definitely worth going there again!
We stayed in Hotel Orion which was quite nice and close to the Piazza San Marco. On New Years Eve the small lanes of the city were crowded with people. Venice has a great firework over the sea and we had a good place right in front of the water to watch it.
Walking in Venice is like walking in a maze, you always get lost. There are so many small lanes! We really enjoyed the special atmosphere of this city. On every corner you discover something new.
On a very sunny and hot day we decided to do another via ferrata above Riva. In the morning we took the boat from Torbole to Riva. From there we started and took the small road which goes along the lake. After about 20 minutes there is a small path leading into high grass. It looks like this path is not walked very often. Later we realized that most people who do this via ferrata are coming directly from Biacesa. The path which leads to the beginning of the via ferrata Susatti is quite small and steep and we are already completely in sweat when we reach the beginning of the via ferrata. Walking up the via ferrata is not difficult, so we have a lot of time to enjoy the view down! The lake is so blue and because of this view it is really worth going up there. When we reach Cima Capi we take a short break and then continue on the via ferrata Foletti until we reach the small hut. Because of the heat we are already tired, but Cima Rocca with the old galleries from World War First sounds promising. So we continue. Luckily we have a torch with us. It is really worth going this way as you can pass the old galleries. Going down we take the direct way to Biacesa. By the time we arrive there the sky is completely covered with clouds and there is no bus going back to Riva. So we walk along the old road to Pregasina directly above the lake. Back in Torbole we are really tired and looking forward to a big pizza and our hotel room.
About 3 or 4 years ago we already did the via ferrata Rio Sallagoni which goes through a canyon. By then we were a bit scared by the second part which was said to be without anything to belay yourself. This year we were in a good mood to start because we were looking forward to the coolness inside the canyon. I personally do not like the first part, because it is overhanging and you have nothing under your feet, but Carsten enjoys it. With shaky legs I walked along the two ropeways and when most of the people left after the first part we decided to continue this time and take a look at what we missed last time. Mostly you have to go up 3-4 steps above the water but it is a lot of fun and on a hot day like this we don't mind getting a bit wet. It is definitely worth to continue 🙂 All in all a very nice via ferrata for a hot day, but you have to be careful because the rock is mostly very slippery.
The morning was looking quite cloudy, so we decided to do something that does not take too much time and so we decided on the via ferrata Colodri. This is an easy via ferrata in Arco which ends on the Colodri summit which is 400m high. By the time we are at the beginning of the via ferrata it is already really hot! We have not done a via ferrata for about 2 years and so an easy one is a good start. It is a lot of fun to go up and we enjoy the view down to Arco. On the summit we take a break. Back in Arco we buy some fresh olives and bread and enjoy the atmosphere of this nice town. Because it is so hot we decide to drive to Drena which is only about 10 minutes away and do the via ferrata Sallagoni which goes through a canyon.
