July-19-2005

Word of the Day
Eccitazione: 1: excitement 2: How JenFu felt when he found an Italian translation of Antoine De Sait-Exupry’s “Little Prince” in a small bookshop in Cortina.

Communication is not always easy but often necessary. It’s been 1 ½ weeks traveling with Corinne. Though we have differences in personality which have created strange dynamics at times, I believe that deep down, we both share a common thread…we both seek adventure. I think that I’ve had more scary experiences to temper my enthusiasm.

Today was a rest day in Cortina. It is a colorful, little town. I consider it little since I managed to walk it in a few short hours. I definitely walked most of it during the hours of 12:00 and 15:30 when almost everything shuts down. I’m still not used to this aspect of European culture but I think I could get used to it!



The town is definitely centered around the mountains. The mountains surround the town physically and spiritually. It is tourist-oriented but definitely has a local flare as well.

As for grappa, I found plenty of that. Prosciutto was also part of the day’s experience. I stopped at CP26. I have no idea of what that stands for, but according to the Lonely Planet guide of Italy, it is the best place for prosciutto in Cortina. I have to agree. The platter I enjoyed was plentiful and the melon was very sweet. Prosciutto is a strange concept. As our truck driver-friend stated, the Italians eat rotten meat. It’s aged for up to 22 months. That’s a strange concept for me since when I leave a steak out overnight, it is yucky and moldy by the next day.

Corinne and I spent most of the day exploring the city independently. It was the most time we spent apart over the last 1 ½ weeks. It’s a strange thing. When you’re in the mountains, you depend on each other to stay alive. That creates a strong bond; However, on a climbing trip, when life is often limited to close quarters, it can be a tough situation. We’ve done quite fine and I think Corinne and I will be good friends for a long time after this trip.

I haven’t had that much wine but I’m lacking coherent thoughts right now. Perhaps it was the 2 separate gelato adventures today of the overdose of proscuitto. Either way, it’s time to rest. It’s best to be well-rested to stay alive in the mountains.