Skiing the Dolomites
Jan 26th, 2002 | 08:36 AM
#2
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Hi Fred! We skied Cortina a few years ago and loved it! We went rather late in the season for the Dolomites (mid-March), but were lucky a storm dropped 3 feet of snow the week before our arrival. Snow conditions were typical spring - snow got better the higher you went. No crowds at all. On piste skiing was very easy - low intermediate. We had to search for a steep run & found one - the Cristallo. We were really impressed with the endless network of trams, gondolas, & lifts of every type imaginable. It was so different from skiing in the US. It was really fun to pick a route & ski from village to village then find a great spot to stop for lunch. You can always take a public bus or taxi back if you get too tired. Two routes your should definitely ski are the Sella Ronda (only on sunny days because the scenery is the whole point) and the Passo de Falzarego (SP?). The scenery all around Cortina is absolutely awesome - take lots of film.<BR><BR>Cortina itself is a very wealth resort town. Dress nicely like the Italians. In the late afternoon the local families take the passagiata -pre-dinner stroll through town, visiting with neighbors and shopping. Our most interesting fashion note was that ALL the women wear mink coats. This is not an exaggeration. It must be mink and it must be brown. If you see any other type of fur worn, you know the wearer is a tourist. We took a picture of a 3 foot deep pile of brown mink in a cafe windowseat.<BR><BR>We stayed at the Grand Hotel Savoia, a 4 star. Very European and wonderful. Our plan included 1/2 board, so I can't recommend restaurants except to say everywhere we stopped for lunch while skiing was excellent.<BR><BR>We would go back again in a flash!
