Not wanting to miss out on this opportunity and turn it into a regretful woulda-coulda-shoulda afterthought, I’m grabbing a hammer, some nails and a saw to join Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge. This time around it’s all about WOOD.
On a recent settimana bianca (white week) up in the Dolomites of northern Italy, I was surrounded by WOOD — above, around and below.
From the bed on which I slept, the hotel where I stayed, the tables where I ate, the bars where I drank (a lot!), and the rest stops along the slopes that I skied, WOOD was on display morning, noon and night.
Like most, if not all, mountain areas around the globe, the WOOD of the indigenous trees that grow out of the freshly fallen snow around the Dolomites provide the source and strength — and inspiration — for the infrastructure and detail of every home, hotel and baita/hütte/rifugio (refuges) — small wooden structures that are scattered about Italian alpine pastures for herders of sheep, goat and cattle; and, more recently, built up and out to accommodate the growing need of restaurants and watering holes for the hungry and thirsty seasonal sports enthusiasts.
Up in the Dolomites you’ll find the biggest and richest trees in all of Europe. Here you can admire Beech, Birch, Pines (Black, Cembra, Mugo and Sylvester), Golden Chain, Larches, Maples and Willows.
Ahhh. There is nothing quite like the fresh, natural smell of WOOD high up in the mountains during wintertime. The wood-planked ambiance — the lumber and the over-served imbibers — immediately brings one warmth, comfort and lots of enjoyment.
Enjoy the music-video of the barns, bars, beams and baite that I enjoyed during my ski holiday, and do let me know if I NAILED it.
©The Palladian Traveler | ©Tom Palladio Images
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You did – and by the way, hat on piste – fantastic 🙂
Thanks W-Gene. The Borsalino was “custom made” for my snow posts. It’ll go back in the hat box shortly. :>)
Oh no! We want the Borsalino 🙂
These are great photos for this week’s theme!! Thanks for playing along!!
Thanks Cee. I’m glad I was able to join the foto fun. Hopefully, this will not be the last you see/hear from me.
You nailed it, Tom. Magnificent words and creatively captured images in great angle.
Thanks Rommel. Glad you enjoyed to the text, the frames and the video.
Beautiful photos, you’ve made me want to move a little quicker on my plans to visit Italy ;D
Italy’s not going anywhere anytime soon, so you have plenty of time to pack your bags and come to the Bel Paese. Thanks for reading/viewing my “woody” post.
You nailed it beautifully Tom. Love the videos you’re starting to create on videopress.
Emily — Thanks for the thumbs up. I rather enjoy putting the frames with music and creating a short video at the end of my posts. Less chance they’ll be lifted, and I can get them all in — those that didn’t get top billing along with the text above.