Perpetual Change

Ode to a pool

So I was sent to the Dolomites for the last two weeks, as usual, I worked extremely hard and long hours, but ate phenomenal food paired with excellent wines, got some great bike rides and hikes, and stayed at some exceptional hotels. Not to mention that I got paid four days to discover a new area of Italy, one with a HUGE Bavarian influence, and a local people who are descendents of the celts and their Roman conquerers sent by Tiberius. The language of the amalgamation, called Ladin, originates around 15 AD and claimes 40,000 speakers in 4 valleys, 2 of which we visited.

The tips, however, weren't so good, but the people were lovely. Sometimes I wonder if truly excellent service undermines the ambition to tip. I think if something goes a little wrong, the tips are better.

Anyway, I write this because of the exceptional pool at Hotel Turm in the little German speaking town of Fie at the base of the dramatic mountain Scilliar. (www.......) The pool is not of exceptional size, but somehow all its features combine to creat a truly blissful feeling:
The soft oval shape,
the small white tiles,
the grassed in deck,
the mountain hanging overhead
...all combined to create one of my most pleasant swimming experiences ever (the end of a stressful day, could have something to do with it).

I love and miss you all. Congratualtions Chris and Iryna! I wish I could have been there.

posted by jjs @ 4:58 PM