Day 6: Italian Alps

Staying in the valley feels peaceful and bright. The mountain was breathtaking. I can see why some choose to live far up in the hillside. After breakfast we drove to the lift and took it to a point on top.

I’m very out of shape for hiking and had to stop

often. I should’ve brought my camelback.

Everyone was patient with me and waited when I stopped to rest of to drink. At first the climb was steep and graveled. Then there were stone steps you could see a silver shine in as the sun fell.

The higher we went the more excited I got for the view.

Despite stopping on the way up, once there I had energy

as if I just woke from a long rest.

There is a large cross

there with a letterbox. I signed, dated, and wrote in since I don’t have a stamp I wrote in memory of my grandfather, wishing my dad and Pop-Pop could enjoy the moment with me, but glad I got to enjoy it in quiet.

Daniel and I took photos for friends, family, and his girlfriend.

We sat by the cliffs edge and I tapped the aerial view. I joked around by dancing or making funny faces which embarrassed Daniel so he left to go back to the cross. I sat on the cliff listening to the soft whisper of silence and ran my fingers through

the grass.

I took a deep

breath and felt at ease. I put flowers and hay in my hair and chewed on rye. Daniel called me to leave so we started our decent. We talked along the way which was nice.

I find he reminds me of myself sometimes. Occasionally quiet, but always thinking, sometimes day dreaming, but always looking out for others. When we talk we believe similarly on how people should act or be and its nice to hear how someone else feels. Sometimes he reminds me of my father, a romantic, but sometimes with caution. I feel that way at least myself. So much of me is an adult, I’ve learned and experienced and there is so much more to go through. I’m going to miss feeling like I can be myself all the time when I have to go back to work. I know with everything you must compromise and understand others, but sitting in a robe on a balcony in Italy is so far from being stifled in the work place. Pleasing everyone, but myself and feeling like a phoenix in a cage.

I don’t know how, but I feel tired and up for adventure at the same time. When I’m back in NY I know I need to exercise more and enjoy being away from a computer and cell phone. While sitting here I remember years ago with an old boyfriend running to a golf field in the middle of the night and laying on a hill staring at the stars. I feel like running up the mountain in the middle of the night to do the same thing here.

To think I may only once see these stars here which may even be gone from the heavens years ago is poetic in its mystery. The clouds seem to move slower here, the winds rest in the late day, and I’m glad I’ve taken and been given this moment.

Daniel and I went bike riding through a path that led to the edge of town (or at least to the next mile marker)

On our tour there we saw others riding the countryside, walkers, and two people road horses. On the way back for dinner we stopped occasionally to take photos. Daniel found one he really liked and said he’ll add it to his Facebook.

Here I feel even the planned hike was relaxed, they stopped for me and the landscape was actual nature not sand and stone weathered by time. Time seems to pass different here, almost angelic in its effervescence and ease. I don’t know the date or time and I don’t care. I know I’ll be dreaming of coming back and/or other visiting other countries to travel to once I’m in NY. I have always been a day dreamer. It seems fit to listen now to day dream believer.