Friday morning — our penultimate in the Dolomites — is yet another gorgeous day. The four of us brekky together and decide to drive to Sella Pass for a morning lift — we’ve got to amortize our 6-day, 152 euro lift pass — and view the surrounding ranges and peaks. The drive: Narrow twisting roads at steep grade. Parking lot: Thankfully not full. The view: Typical Dolomite. You have to be there to believe it (see pics). The lift: Without a pass is 35 euro one way up (so we cease carping about whether or not we should have bought “smaller” passes).

The lifts are little coffins for no more than 2 people that go up and up and up (see pics). Packed snow surrounds the restaurant at the top. We take lots of photos, ogle the rock climbers above us, and Darrel walks to the “backside” of the pass for a look at distant mountains. It’s possible to hike down in that direction … and this will become a horrific story in three days. Just wait.

We drive back to the hotel and, in the late afternoon Nora, Darrel and Cynthia leave David behind to visit the first alpaca farm in Italy. For a price we are each given one animal to take on a walk.

The walk is uphill and narrow and leads to two large waterfalls.

The alpacas are happy to stroll with us but constantly want to stop and graze. Dandelions seem the preferred choice.

The farm owner travels to shows to buy quality animals. Cynthia’s charge, Moon, was from New Zealand.

Back to our hotel for our last dinner.

Hotel Grones: a very gentle place to stay. Excellent service, views, food, walking sticks and guidance on hikes.

Along with lovely food our dinner table was also beautiful.

A totally charming place in gorgeous country.