The Alps

Today, we spent time in the massive mountains behind Peters base in Aviano. The Dolomite are part of the alps mountain range. It's hard to describe how big they are. You feel dwarfed by them every time you step outside the door or open a window. I can imagine Joe and Tom skiing on these slopes and thought of them both, most of the afternoon as we explored the area and looked at the ski slope now closed, while the peaks of the moutains were still covered in snow.

Peter and Abbie kept telling us we had to see where they got engaged, so we drove there today. The steep climb up the mountainside took almost an hour by car, and every vista was more breathtaking than the last. It was almost a shame to take photos as we all knew it's not really possible to capture that on film. Lake Barcis (pronounced Bar-chiss) was an unearthly green. I kept thinking it belonged in a sci-fi
movie.

All I can really say is that as far as places to propose, Peter nailed it. It was indescribably beautiful. We ate lunch at a sweet restaurant on the mountainside and drank coffee.

The people we've met have been so warm and genuine. No one seems bothered when we don't know the language, just appreciative when we try. The coffee everyone raves about seems simple to understand. At home, we brew a pot of coffee for anyone to take. In Italy each cup is made individually because they care about making each cup well. What a lesson to be learned. I value efficiency so much as a person, but here the beauty of the inefficient attention to detail has been striking. I love the contrast it's showing me.

There was a very old church we stopped into on our way out of town. It was so old I wiped a few wrinkles from my face before I left. Standing in old places with ancient traditions helps ground the soul. We pass away in the blink of an eye, God remains.

Tonight, Pete took us to a local vineyard for pizza and wine tasting (they had frizzante, no worries-but I did try the wine and it still tastes mostly like vinegar). the sun was setting in the background and we listened to music and laughed and told stories from when Pete was a kid.