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South Tyrol snowshoeing – a winter story about the peak of Eggespitz

In February 2017, we spent a couple of weeks in the Aurina Valley (Ahrntal) in South Tyrol snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in the area. One memorable snowshoeing (winter hiking) trip was the trail to the peak of Eggespitz (2187 m).  Though it may evoke thoughts of an omelette, “egg” actually means “peak” in Swiss-German. Eggespitz, and the Aurina Valley where it’s located, lie in the Südtyrol/Alto Adige region in Italy, a beautiful region with a rich and complex history.

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Rustic hiking with splendid views of Lake Como (Lago di Como)

Lago di Como, in the province of Lombardy – one of the mostly densely populated regions in Italy, and even Europe. The density of population here at an average of around 400+people/sq km rivals that in Japan and the Netherlands – two of the two most densely populated countries in the world. So you can imagine that when I found myself with time on my hands in May in the Bergamo area  I did not seriously expect to find any exceptional pristine wild hikes there.

I’m going to tell you a story that sort of qualifies as a hiking trip failure, but in retrospect this short but eventful day trip was just another kind of adventure. And this adventure boasted of two highlights: getting caught in an Italian national train strike (a memorable and educational experience in itself), and surviving said strike to tell the tale. Namely, the tale of how we managed to travel to our destination and back (almost) without disruptions to our plan (though I ascribe this last bit to atypical lucky stroke). And yes, I’m talking about a day trip! It’s legendary – read on.

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Paris haul – edible souvenirs

French cheese, cheese board, cheese platter, cheese tasting

Over the years I’ve learnt one surefire way of extending that special feeling of being on holiday beyond the end of the actual holiday – buy souvenirs to bring back home! More concretely, edible souvenirs. Nowadays I never ever leave without stuffing whatever empty space remains in my suitcase(s) with select goodies. I go both for some of already known favourites as well was for  new things to taste-test. And, these are equally good as a treat for yourself and for friends and family.

My recent Paris haul ended up being pretty compact yet has yet to disappoint me. This time I actually sort of balanced it health-wise by getting 50% cookies and 50% pulses (not counting all the cheese ahem…).

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A hidden gem of Paris – the park with Eiffel Tower views you didn’t know about

Wanting to avoid the hustle and bustle of Paris, which one encounters even in parks around the city, I went on a search for a park in Paris where I could take a pleasant walk with a proper Parisian vibe. The criteria: it had to be well-connected and easily accessible by public transport, be decently sized, and have facilities such as shops and cafes nearby. Oh, and have views of the Eiffel tower. Sounds like a tall order? I dare say I found it – the Paris’s equivalent of London’s sprawling luscious Hampstead Heath, the Saint-Cloud park.
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Best “boring” books you should read when travelling or hiking

I thought I would vary the blog a bit by veering to a slightly different topic, and talk about another of my favourite activities: reading. Truth be told, although I like reading, when I’m travelling or hiking, it’s not the first thing that I go for. Naturally, since I’m out there exploring new places I prefer to dedicate my full concentration to what’s around me (vs. the virtual world of a book).

However, there have been times while I was travelling or hiking when I really yearned for something to read (to the extent that I have ended up voraciously reading product labels and tourist brochures).
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