Wildflowers, Water, and Herbs in Alps Mountains, Cercivento, Italy

Cari Amici,

The mountains seem to hold everything, including these small gems of wildflowers that I have photographed. These images were taken in the Alps of Cervicento, Italia, in the region called Carnia (Alpi Carniche) I have always loved blue flowers, especially when wild. The flowers in these first two images are named “Eyes of the Madonna” and I do not know the name of the other tiny blue wildflowers that have the white or yellow center with the dark dot inside.



This red flower is called a mountain rose (by my friend at least). She does not have much of a fragrance either, but is still quite lovely.


Allora, water is my favorite thing to drink. Only, I prefer simply H-2-0. No bubbles. No chemicals. No minerals. Just the beauty of three – 2 hydrogens plus one oxygen. Cercivento has the best tasting tap water that I have had the pleasure to drink in Italy (and elsewhere). It comes from mountain streams, such as the one you see me drinking from and at another, filling up bottles. (OK, yes these bottles are plastic, but I did not prepare adequately and wanted a proper souvenir of my trip.)


It is near these pure water streams high up in the mountains that the following medicinal herb grows. Although my friend did not know the name of this plant, I was enticed to try it. (I am sometimes amazed at how trusting I am!)
One eats the spicy leaves, not the flowers. If you know what plant this is, please share the information by way of this blog or my e-mail address. Va bene?

So, I hope you enjoy these images and that you start noticing how beautiful are the small things around you.

And now, I bid you good evening as I return to determining my summer teaching schedule in Texas.

Ciao ragazzi!
Kelly

Alps in Cercivento, Italy

Cari Amici,

I was invited to see a friend in Cercivento, Italy, and so, I took a train to Udine in northeastern Italy on Friday evening. My friend greeted me there and we drove north for about one hour. The Alps were beautiful and serene. The rain kept us from hiking up these mountains as much as I would have enjoyed, but I also find peace in the sound of raindrops hitting rooftops.


One afternoon, we had to stop our ascent up the mountain because huge clouds were rolling in. The landscape was changing so dramatically into a sea of white that it became dangerous to go up further. Pictured here is a take-off ramp for hang gliders before it, too, became hidden from view. I wanted to try hang gliding for my 30th birthday, but never knew where to go. (And my friend Australian sculptor Mick took his first hang-gliding lesson for his 50th birthday, so I think I still have some time ;-)

These other images are of Lago Cavazzo, south of where I was staying. Even though we visited on a Saturday, this free park was almost empty, save for a few fishermen and a charming older couple. And apparently, the waters were more tranquille than normal.

I was told that because of the unusual cooler and rainy weather that Italy has been experiencing this year, I arrived before the wild strawberries did. Bummer. However, this vacanza breva was a much needed break from my routine and I was delighted to have seen a part of Italy I might not had taken the time to see otherwise.

Please enjoy the photos. Perhaps tomorrow I can share a few more.
Ciao, ciao,
Kelly