Hiking at Lago Santo

Christian took Chuck and I on a hike to Lago Santo (Lake Santo) which is forty-six miles southwest of Maranello.  When we woke up in the morning, it was pretty warm and sunny outside.  When we left, around 11:30 a.m., and started driving to the mountains, the weather turned on us and started raining.  Because of the windy roads and a bike race, it took about an hour and a half to arrive at Lago Santo.  Hiking in Italy is not like hiking in the States.  At the start of the hike there was a souvenir shop and thereafter, two restaurants and a hotel.  Since we didn't eat breakfast, we decided to stop by the restaurant and wait out the rainy weather.  Plus, it was a good time as Massa and Raikkonen were about to start their F1 race at the Monaco Grand Prix.  While eating our 1st course of tortoloni (bigger-sized tortellini), 2nd course-sausage and drinking wine, we watched as Massa and Raikkonen were having a bad day at the track.  After polishing our 2nd half-liter carafe of wine and the rain stopped, we went on our hike.  It was a pretty hike.  We first stopped at Lago Santo as its next to the restaurant.  A few people were fishing for trout.  It was a gradual climb to the top of the peak.  We didn't have time to complete the full hike as we started off around 3:30 p.m., but did get halfway to the top and saw some spectacular views of mountains and valleys.  

It was a nice change from the bustling city life.  So quiet and calm.  From across this mountain peak, you could look across to two of Italy's ski resorts.  After this hike, we drove to Abetone which is 11 km from Lago Santo.  Abetone is a popular ski/snowboarding resort.  With no snow, there wasn't much going on and most of the shops were closed.  But Chuck and I found a shop and got a souvenir, a bottle of Grappa Alla Liquirizia.      

 

This is Lago Santo with snow.  Though there were a few patches of snow on the trail, it was nothing like this.