We spent the last two days in the shadow of the Matterhorn. The town of Breuil-Cervinia on the Italian side of the Alps reminds me a lot of Whistler, or Blue Mountain. It's full of small, pedestrian-only cobble stone streets, lined with pubs, alpine ski outfitters, and tacky tourist shops.
The Matterhorn, known in French as Mont Cervin, is the 12th tallest peak in Europe, stretching over 14,000 feet into the sky. The surrounding mountains provide a popular tourist destination for biking and skiing enthusiasts all year round. While enjoying a pint of Heineken on an outside patio yesterday afternoon, Dave summed it up best, by saying: "I don't love skiing, but I love the skiing lifestyle." I couldn't agree more.
This morning, after enjoying a leisurely breakfast of Nutella on toast, Dave and I set out for the gondola to take us up the mountain, in search of a panoramic view of the Matterhorn. We took three separate cable cars, each ascending to an increasing altitude, and giving way to incredible views. Here are some of my favourite shots for the journey:
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| Gondola #1 from Breuil-Cervinia to Plan Masion |
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| Gondola #2 from Plan Maison to Cime Bianche |
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| Gondola #3 from Cime Bianche to Plateau Rosa |
When we got to the top, at 11,400 feet, we were rewarded with outstanding views. And snow! Turns out, if you ascend high enough, you can find snowy slopes in the middle of August. The valley of Breuil-Cervina offers year-round skiing for those interested in seeking frosty runs even in the height of summer.
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| At the top of Plateau Rosa, 11,400 feet in the sky |
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| Snow in August at the mountain peak! |
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| The Matterhorn towers over the valley of Breuil-Cervinia |
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| 3,480 metres = 11,400 feet (The highest I've been on land!) |
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| Skiers enjoying the snowy afternoon at the peak of the mountain |
After enjoying a late lunch in Plateau Rosa, we descended back down the way we came. Let me tell you, as someone with a natural fear of heights, the going down was not an easy course. As our gondola swayed in the wind, I kept asking myself (over and over again) what are the mechanics behind gondolas... really? Do I trust this cable not to get dislodged from the giant wheel? We made it down the mountain, naturally, but my trust in these mechanics ends there.
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| I spent most of the ride down the mountain in this position |
Another thing I wanted to share, was the experience I had in the bathroom at one of the gondola stops on the way down. This was the toilet I was instructed to use:
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| Um, what? |
Italy, how is this better than a regular toilet that's, let's say, elevated from the ground? I left this bathroom experience (with a full bladder) and many, many questions.
We spent the evening back in Breuil-Cervina, dining at a traditional Italian restaurant that served up the best pizza in town (according to Dave's research via Trip Advisor). The portions were huge, the wine was delicious, what more can you ask for?
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| I only got through half of my pizza—the serving was giant! |
Dave's decided he's obsessed with egg topping on pizza—carbonara, it's called. Not sure if this is a thing back in Canada, but if not, we should get on it. It's a delicious combination.
Tomorrow we're officially leaving the Swiss Alps behind after 5 blissful days in their shadow and heading to Verona for more Italian culture—and hopefully more yummy pizza and wine.
Until then,
Heather
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