So in the time between Carnival and now Spring has definitely sprung. Milan is warming up and things are getting a lot better. So we decided to head to Torino and skiing for the weekend before it got too warm.
Torino was the center of the celebration for 150 Years of Italian Unity. It was like gameday for Italy. Everyone has their faces colored with the Italian flag and people were draping and waving the flags all over the city. We spent the day walking around Torino and just taking in the massive crowds. There were so many people lining the streets and in the main piazza. We walked into the Duomo and saw the Shroud of Turin along with some gardens and walked based the Tower of Torino. But for me, the highlight of Torino was the pistachio salami pizza at 11 a.m. It was glorious.
That night we headed out to Bardonecchia, which was an hour outside of Torino. It was the sight of the 2006 Snowboarding Olympics. We pulled into the mountains just as the sun was setting and it played a purple sky over the Italian French Alps. It was so exciting to see.
We had a fantastic ski chalet for the weekend. 2 stories and only 20 euro a night! :) IT was more than enough room for all 5 of us. The next morning looking off our balcony was amazing. It was a sight I have rarely seen in my life. Huge mountains covered in snow glistening in the sun. We headed out to get a our ski passes and we were off to the slopes. As soon as I put my skies on I knew what trouble I had gotten myself into. Beginner Alpine Skiing is in no way beginner.
The snow was scary. It was very icy in some parts. But the course itself wasn't difficult (even though there were no barriers to protect you from exploding off the side of the mountain) but it was the steepness and the incline. I had no idea how to manage my speed or stop very well yet. It was only my second time skiing ever. And this was the alps! So I took it slow at first, collecting my ganas at each plateau. But then I went for it. Explosion! epic. I lost my two skies and poles. But it was nice to get the scare of the first crash over with.
The rest of the way continued to be very steep and intimidating. Not to mention there weren't any beginners on the slopes at all! So we took it down one slope at a time.
K and I were on the same level. Kiki, Matt and David were all pretty advanced. So K and I pretty much stayed together for the rest of the day. We kept on trying mountain after mountain and not really giving up even though were were terrible and exhausted. On our last lift, one that you have to hold onto and put under your butt, was the most epic.
I went on first and K followed. I managed to start just fine and climb a bit, when I realized K had an explosion at the start. It was hilarious to look back and see him sprawled out on the floor, but then I realized I had to climb this thing alone. I kept turing around and looking for K but he never seemed to come over the slope. I realized it was just me. Going up this 90 degree angle on this mountain by myself. I was so scared to fall in the middle of nowhere. I had to get to the top. It was a beautiful and quiet ascent.
So I hung on and hung on. The lift was so steep at some point my elbows were touching my knees and I was hanging on so tight. But then the slope leveled out quickly and I had to much slack. But I was holding on so tight that I just fell on my face. I sat there, in the middle of deep snow, having to pee incredibly bad, alone. all alone. I managed to fall directly on a hill/bridge, which I tumbled down onto the blue/easy slope path. Easy my ass. I was not only scared again but by myself. I had so much left to do on this trip I didn't want to seriously injure myself.
So I skied a bit down, then took of my skis and began to carry them down the steepest part of the slope. It was hell. A nice couple came by and took my skies and said they would leave them at the lift/restaurant below. Far below. The walk was actually pleasant and amazing. It was nice to take things slow and take in the view. When I got close to the lift, I heard my name and it was K. He survived his fall! He fell in the middle of nowhere and had to trek his way back through dense snow to any path lol.
We decided we tried our best, went up to the deck of the chalet with the most amazing view of the mountains and did some tanning. rested and relaxed. Then we took the the lift down to meet the other around 4:30pm and the day was over.
We were exhausted. So tired we couldn't make dinner. Wine, cheese and bread. that's it.
The next day I could barely move. It was like if I had pulled every muscle in my body. I knew there wasn't much for me to do on the lifts the second day, because I just wasn't advanced enough. So Me Kiki and K explored the town of Bardonecchia. It was nice and quaint. Then we went back up the slopes and mountain, with our shoes!, to meet the boys for lunch at the ski chalet. Boxed Wine, bread and brie with one of the greatest views of my life. The sun was shining and and some point it was snowing! But I was breathtaking. my words will never be able to do it justice. We had some of the best hot chocolate I have ever had. On top of the Alps.
After lunch we headed back to our place, made a great dinner feast, played card games, drank, and really just enjoyed our cabin and our company.
On Sunday we headed back to Milan on the cheapest 4 hour train we could find. It was one the best weekends. It was so nice to exercise and see some nature. Get out of this bustling city Milano. Fresh Air and Sun. We needed it because the whole week prior it was raining in Milan. So this was the best pick-me-up we could ask for.
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