Although I grew up in and near the Canadian Rockies, there is something majestic, gorgeous, and wonderfully Old World about the Italian Alps that I never experienced in Canada.

Perhaps it’s the ancient stone cottages that dot the emerald green meadows, bordered by old fruit trees and covered by thick, rambling vines.

stone alpine cottage

 

Or maybe the wonderful old church yards whose crumbling crosses are enhanced rather than dwarfed by the soaring peaks.

 

Italian stone cross

 

I absolutely love the profusion of flowers that spill over balconies and stone walls, making even the most imposing home cheerful and welcoming.

 

flowery alpine house

 

It’s the old alpine barns I love most, with their weathered timbers and lofts overflowing with golden hay. I long for afternoons spent cozy up there on an old quilt, reading about Heidi and WWII smugglers and hardy farmers eking out a living in these forbidding mountains.

 

alpine barn

 

I loved seeing these beautiful spots on a drive through the Italian Alps with my dear friend and editor, Margo, from the Travel Belles.

What fun we had driving wherever the mood took us, laughing when twisting lanes turned into tracks so precarious there was no way on earth we could traverse without endangering ourselves and anyone unfortunate enough to meet us. With 12-point turns aplenty we explored this gorgeous region near Vogogna, Italy. Our jaunts marked by frequent screeching of brakes as we took turns crying out, “STOP!”, then hopping out to take pictures of grazing cattle with huge bells around their necks, or simple picturesque villages.

alpine stream

We started our day with our traditional Vogogna breakfast: ugly eggs. They were my specialty, made in a wretched old skillet that turned any egg into a muddled mess no matter how much butter I used. We didn’t mind though, cuz they tasted great anyways, especially served over spinach stir-fried with sun-dried tomatoes. Perfect pre-road-tripping food. 🙂

ugly eggs

Where is your favorite place to go for a drive?