Our favourite restaurant

So lucky to pay another visit to one of our favourite restaurants in the world.  La Petite Ferme.

 

"The Little Farm" is situated high above Franschhoek in South Africa with a breathtaking view of the valley.

 

 

The freshly smoked trout which I had is a speciality not to be missed and the wine is pretty special too.

                                             The smile says it all.  Petite prices too!!

                                           A wonderful table in the shade, it was hot, with a delicious chilled wine.

                                          and my favourite dessert to follow.  A Don Pedro
                                          (see my blog dated Thursday, 20th December, 2012                        
                                            for recipe).

Arabba

This idyllic destination is nestled in the heart of the Dolomites surrounded by the Livinallongo valley in Ladin - speaking Veneto.  With the striking Sella Massif and Portavesco mountain ranges on either side and the Marmolada mountain (fondly known as the 'Queen of  the Dolomites') Arabba's beautiful landscape forms part of a UNESCO World heritage site. The road to Arabba:-

One of the highest resorts in Italy, Arabba is small and cosy with traditional mountain architecture housing quaint bars, restaurants and a pretty village church.  Despite the stunning scenery and mountain charm oozing from every nook and cranny (did I mention it has some of the best snow in the area too?) Arabba remains somewhat of a hidden gem in the ski world, a well kept secret often overshadowed by the more commercial European resorts.  We flew into Innsbruck a 145 km drive (about 2 hours depending on traffic and snow conditions) from the resort.

The view from our balcony on arrival:-

 
The Dolomiti Superski Area (1,220 km) is the world's biggest ski network, in arguably the world's most beautiful mountains.  If you love to eat up the ski-miles, like the boys, and want to do so on snow-sure slopes in simply glorious scenery then you would love it here.

The Monastery at San Croce

One of the highlights of the week for the boys was joining the rep. Elaine for some social ski-ing and being guided to some interesting locations such as the Monastery.  She was excellent both on skis and off.

The food in the mountain huts in Italy is also very good.

Massive craggy peaks of sheer rock dominate the skyline, rising seemingly impossibly from lower gentle foothills, the Dolomite mountain range is like nothing else in the Alps.  Later in the day when villages below are cast in shade, the peaks catch the last of the sun's rays giving off a warm pinky glow.  One of the largest and most impressive hunks of Dolomite rock is the Sella Massif.  The ski route round, known as the Sellaronda is one of the most famous ski safaris in the world, perhaps what makes it so popular is that you do not need to be an expert skier to enjoy it.  The runs total 26 km of skiing and takes you past the beautiful alpine towns of Arabba, Selva, Colfosco, Corvara and Canazei
and will take about five hours with a good lunch stop naturally built-in to the day.

The next choice you need to make is which way to travel.  The clockwise route signposted orange, is generally considered quicker with more challenging slopes, but the green anti-clockwise route, offers some stunning views and is often quieter.  Just be careful you do not get a stiff neck from gazing upward too much when riding the chairlifts!          


  

 

The view from our balcony before setting out for the day.  Favourite runs:  We

all have them but a "must do" descent is the 5 km of the Armentarola valley in the Lagazuoi ski area.  The so-called "Hidden Valley" drops down from the top of the Lagazuoi cable-car into a narrow cleft with characteristic, two-tone brown Dolomite rocks.  The piste twists and turns for much of its length; and throughout it is enclosed by the valley walls.

 

                                                                       

 

 

What a stunning experience.

 

We all met up at the bottom at the restaurant called two dogs.  The dogs sit on the roof.

 

  

After a lovely lunch at the bottom the drag-lift to the nearest chair is quite slow.

It is a two-horsepower device: the  horses trot up the gradual incline, dragging two lines of skiers hanging on to ropes for 2   Euros each.

 

 

Whilst the boys were skiing their little socks off.  Pauline and I had lessons with Alan Denicolo from Scuola Ski.  The lessons w ere a memorable experience ending with us carving the black runs without realising it.  You don't have to be a beginner to have lessons.   Remember even world-cup racers have tuition....they just call it training.  Our lift  pass computer read out at the end of the holiday said you are a   professional but Alan said we couldn't wear his jacket yet.....perhaps next year!!!!!!

 

  

Thank you group.  Tony, Pauline, Clive and Rosie.  We had a wonderful time.