Torino and Gran Paradiso

Trip Start Apr 26, 2008
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18
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Trip End Ongoing


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Wednesday, July 30, 2008

After a few days in Torino I headed off for a trip to Gran Paradiso national park on the bus. It was just stunning with all the alpine flowers in bloom and the sun shining over snow capped mountains. I also tried some of the local specialties including a very grainy semolina full of cheese and butter which I loved but couldn't finish! It was perfect after a long day of walking. After I spent the night in a wonderful warm and cozy little room I spent the next day doing as many short walks as I could fit in before I got the bus back to Torino. I went on three seperate walks, one by a river where I got to see some of the park's famous Ibex, another walk between Cogne and Valnontey, and I also went up in a chairlift thing for a walk up higher and got some great views of Valnontey where I'd been staying and also the mountains. Just before leaving I fit in a visit to the Paradisia Alpine graden and saw some beautiful alpine flowers, on one of which I saw some ladybird getting very friendly indeed Gran Paradiso woode flower
Gran Paradiso woode flower
 ! I spent only a night there and must return some time when I get back to Italy if I get the opportunity, but I wanted to get back to Torino because it was Maurizio's 30th birthday and I couldn't miss that!

We all went out to a local pub/restaurant by the river and I had a great night getting to know some new people, and also catching up with some people whom I'd met in Rimini. On the Saturday everyone was beginning to start their month of August in holidays ad so I hitched a ride back to Rimini with Maurizio and Francesca in the car. Wow there was sooooo much traffic! It took us I think about 7 hours to get to Rimini which normally takes about half the time I think. Ayway it was a long drive but I had the whole back seat to myself so I was able to lie back and relax. All i all a great little trip through some more parts of Italy that I hadn't seen yet.
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