The enchanted valley.. Journey to Val Senales in trentino Alto Adige, Italy

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The Land Before Time

The year 2009 was a year rich in terms of trips / excursions, so we decided to conclude with some magic!

After 16 years we returned to our Land that had made us dream so much, but this time with a special guest, our Topino.

So I try to be holy patience and start to call to book your vacation ... oh I forgot, our Land is Val Senales in Trentino.
Sixteen years ago we were young and beardless, and a B & B there was more than good, now "adult". ... Ah, ah, ah ... ... prefer a half-board!
Obviously, the first attempts are going bad ... ... all filled to the epiphany, because already, unless you had already said, we want to spend there last year.
In short, I find a place in Hotel am Fels Monte Santa Caterina.

Our Topina already has a head full of stories about the valley, so it is very curious and excited to go.

Departure day is December 29th and as we get closer to the goal, we note that there is no essential part of the "magic" ... ... the snow. The last time we went, there was so much already in Merano ... ... Where 'run this year!
I am a bit 'disappointed, but I trust in time.
Once at the hotel, the owner assures us that snow is on the tracks ... .. indeed.
We head into our room and unload a huge amount of luggage. Yes, because with 4 sweaters suitcase is full!
The hotel overall is not bad, the disappointment was the dinner. ... Last year, I'll tell you.

I want to clarify that we are a family of skiers ... ... so you ask: "What the hell is going to do in the mountains?". Vebbè not been there to watch everything!
So to be consistent on the first day where we decide to go? Obviously, the Terme Merano ... ... ... ... ah ah ah.
The structure is pretty well organized, but I must say that I've seen better.
The locker rooms are shared, then you turn around, they did not formalize a lot, while showers and toilets are shared.
In summary, there are the swimming pool of salt water, the cold pool, one for children, outside and all the bubbles (as my daughter would say) in time. In addition to courtesy is available at no extra steam room is crowded and the inhalation of saline water, which I did not understand what they were and what they were for.
If you want access to the saunas, you must pay an additional entry.
The baths are crowded, but the fish has a lot of fun ... .... The scales were growing up!
Finished "puciarci" (as they say in Milan) in the pools we made a trip to the market ... ... you wonder how many things.
When I was a good lustful I took a skewer of fruit covered with chocolate ... .... And you think that someone I did not copy? In the diet we think, when we return to base.

As I anticipated, the dinners at the hotel were very sad, probably calibrated on a number of German guests ... ... ... ... Trentino specialties few not to be simplistic, but you eat better in the hospital!

On 31 December we decided to go on the slopes in Maso Corto ... ... .. and there the magic begins ... .. a lot of snow and the atmosphere surrounding these fabulous mountains. We decide to rent a sled for our Topina ... .... You believe it? At the end you have more fun and Mom and Dad have made a mess of crazy ... ... .. pero 'struggling, up and down ... ... so I disposed of the hooray skewered fruit covered with chocolate!

We refreshed in Piccolo Hotel and then we decide to bring our Topina to see the lake ... ... Resia exciting. We had stumbled by chance 16 years ago and loved it, so we return.
The problem is that we do not remember where it was good, the 16 years age 'is not in our favor, we were about to give up when ... .... Eccotelo there!
The Reschensee first of the 50's was a country that was sacrificed for the construction of a dam, the peculiarity is the church tower emerging from the lake. In winter it is very nice because the lake freezes over and you see this tower emerge as if by magic.
After a little 'slips to reach the lake, we are on this sheet of ice ... .. who knows if we will hold salt and adrenaline. Of course it is safe, but you never know ... ...
I, like 16 years ago, I made a hit and run ... and this time I went well!
Today is gray and the clouds are very low, the atmosphere is almost surreal, like being in an enchanted forest and the scenery is breathtaking.

In the evening, Mom and Dad are rags, so we treat ourselves to a relaxing sauna and I must say that it worked.
So get ready for dinner ... .... Infighettati all go down ... ... .. and we are faced with a disappointment. All dressed as always, some who had already started to eat ... ... .. and we smell a bit '.
In short, at 22.00 we had finished the dinner, yes, but "will be organized animation?" But no ... ... grrrrrrrr. The Krauts (there were half a thousand) has been appropriated by the tavern, the only place where you can organize something and 4 Italians have been locked in the room. What bad luck! It was too cold to go around, so we did not have much choice ... ....

Well come 2010! Then as the first activity of the year .... we're going to try one of our ancestors on the glacier. For those who do not know in 1991 was found the body of a man (man Ötzi), which then turned out to be lived in the Neolithic period. Take the cable car and I can assure you that for me it was almost like a birth is to reach 3200 Mt Miiiiii but that is cold '. 3 looked like crazy, all equipped with skis or snowboard, the only such "accidental tourists" was us!
But as true pioneers of the cold we do not intimidate us and help eachother with the camera ... ... I swear there was to die laughing, people looked at us like we were aliens.
Point out that at 3200 m there is only one structure, very large, serving as hotel, bar, restaurant and of course the ski slopes, so who reaches that level, on average (to be generous) is for skiing, not to make The Accidental Tourist.
BUT WHO CARES! What we have seen a show, I felt tiny in front of that view and I can assure you that given my "height" is a joke.
In short, between photos and snowmen it is time to eat lunch at the self service, before a single scene. ... My eyes have been very successful!

Replicate the adrenaline course (for me) and descend to earth to do ... ... the Avalanche blue, hurray.

For the last day of stay in this land before we decide to bring the fish in an outdoor water park ... .... Nooooo joke is all indoors and warm.
The water park Naturno is full of children, of course, with large slide, jets, vortex flow faster to get carried away and a Jacuzzi where parents can relax. Fun for kids and adults.

Tonight, however, 'we grant a thirty dinner and decided to go
Oberraindlhof hotel .... a fairy tale, in theme with the place.

E 'come on the day of departure and having packed all the suitcases in the car we drive to the charming Milan in an endless queue ... ...

Conclusions: The hotel is nice, but the mediocre food, it is sad to be in Italy and feel of aliens, but is the price you pay for these fantastic places.

Val Senales is our enchanted valley, the magic of those places is unique and we relived the same feeling 16 years ago ... ... in fact amplified with us because there was a fairy who missed the first time!