I'm Kevin Costner!  I'm going to be dancing with wolves!  I've been asked to chaperone the 4th grade classes on a two day field trip to a wolf sanctuary in the maritime Alps.  The trip isn't until May but I'm very excited.  Wolves were practically extinct in Italy until they were given protected status in the '70s.   Oh boy!!

On another note, GP and I had a lovely evening last Saturday.  We went with his hiking group to an area not too far away but WAY up high.  It's a semi-abandoned ski resort that was popular in the 70's but then, for whatever reason, fell out of fashion.  The village is called Montoso and still has a few inhabitants though most of the buildings are empty.  The resort itself is up past the tree line and the huge 60's style buildings that were once hotel and apartments, shops and restaurants, are now deserted.  The only tenants are the caretakers.  The area is also famous for stone and there are enormous quarries all along the road up and that can be looked down on from the top.  With no snow all you see is rock.  It's weird and a little creepy.  Very other worldly.  So we drove up for a sunset hike up to a ridge above the resort that has an incredible 365 degree view of the surrounding mountains.  Once at the top we were wined and dined by a catering team who does just that.  They drive a food and drink laden truck up to the ridge, build a fire, set out tables, and feed people.  It was great.  The meal was casual but yummy, the wine was excellent and the view couldn't be beat.  We hiked back down an hour or so after sunset and stopped at the bar these guy own at the base for an after dinner drinkie. 

the sun going down as we start out

looking back at the ski resort

setting up the tables

our torch

xxoo me