On the way to Cortina

2-14-2009

This morning we woke early to drive to Cortina. It is an eight hour journey from Rome. Elena has decided she will join us for a week in the mountains. She will return to Rome the second week and I will stay for the full trip. It was difficult getting everyone up and out of the house this morning. Federico will stay behind for work and will come to Cortina for the second week only.

The car ride was not bad. The time seemed to fly by. We stopped half way to eat at a rest area. The food was not good. We all ate pasta and salad and were on the road again in no time. It was wonderful to travel with Camilla. She tells me a little about each city that we pass. When we passed Florence, her home town, she pointed out a famous monastery. She told me about a wonderful upcoming art exhibit in Rome. It will feature the artist Jetto. Apparently he is the first artist from Italy to exhibit fine technique in painting and he is from Tuscany. She says he is one of Italy’s most important artists. Art restoration is so important in Florence because there was a massive flood that destroyed a large quantity of art. Restorers came from all over the world to help save some of Italy’s most prized possessions.

Elena and I fell asleep in the car during the second half of the trip. We arrived in Cortina at 3:30 in the afternoon. I helped unload the car. Camilla did not waste any time. As soon as the car was unpacked, we walked into the small town of Cortina. The girls had to be fitted for their skis and Ludovica needed new snow boots. The town is beautiful and the shopping is to die for. All of the best designers have shops here and everything is very expensive. Even the food is way over priced. All the women are walking around in beautiful fur coats and everyone is very fashionable, even the children. We stopped at a pastry shop and everyone had a treat. We walked home and ate dinner. Time for bed.