Our journey did not begin in Italy, at least not in spirit. It was meant to take us far beyond Europe, across continents, towards Sri Lanka via India – a trip we had carefully planned and eagerly anticipated. Yet, as so often happens in travel, events beyond our control intervened. Air India abruptly cancelled our return flight to Europe, citing kerosene shortages and price surges linked to escalating geopolitical tensions following Donald Trump’s confrontation with Iran. The airline’s decision was shrewd: by cancelling only the return leg into the EU, they avoided compensation obligations, while effectively forcing us to abandon the entire itinerary.
Continue reading “India or Italy?”Leiteralm
Setting out from the small cluster of Muthöfe, the Meraner Höhenweg begins with a pleasant mix of pastoral charm and sweeping views. The Muthöfe themselves are a handful of traditional mountain farms and huts perched on a gentle terrace, their weathered wood and stone façades framed by alpine meadows. From here the trail unfurls with generous switchbacks and clearly marked paths, rising steadily through larch and pine where the scent of resin fills the air. Early on you pass scatterings of hayracks and small orchards, reminders of the valley’s enduring agricultural rhythm before the route opens onto high alpine ledges.
Continue reading “Leiteralm”Sessellift
The Sessellift between Meran and Dorf Tirol is a charming open-air chairlift that links the town with the sunny slopes above, offering one of the most direct and picturesque ways to gain altitude in the region. Suspended above vineyards and orchards, the ride affords uninterrupted views of Meran’s tiled roofs, the river below, and the surrounding alpine ridgelines. It’s brief but memorable: the slow, steady ascent lets you soak in the landscape in a way a road or bus cannot, and the gentle clatter of the lift adds a nostalgic alpine rhythm to the journey.
Continue reading “Sessellift”Kuenser Waalweg
The Kuenser Waalweg is one of those gentle South Tyrolean walks that combines landscape, heritage and a very pleasant pace. A Waalweg is a path that follows an old irrigation channel, originally built to carry water through drier areas, and today these routes are often lovely, mostly level hiking trails.
Continue reading “Kuenser Waalweg”Rapaci
The Greifvogel-Flugschau at Schloss Tirol is a bird-of-prey centre on the hillside above Dorf Tirol, where rescued wild birds are cared for and, when possible, released back into the wild. It combines a small wildlife refuge with live demonstrations, so visitors can see conservation work and flying displays in one place.
Continue reading “Rapaci”Three languages
Alto Adige, or South Tyrol, is a fascinating region where languages and cultures overlap in a way that feels both Alpine and distinctly Mediterranean. Three languages are officially recognised: German, Italian, and Ladin. German is by far the most widely spoken in everyday life, especially in towns and rural areas, while Italian tends to dominate in the larger cities such as Bolzano. Ladin, a Rhaeto-Romance language, survives in a few Dolomite valleys and adds another layer to the region’s cultural richness.
Continue reading “Three languages”Schloß Tirol
The Castel Tirolo dates back to the year 1100 and is located close to Dorf Tirol near Merano in Italy. It is very well preserved and contains a museum about the history of Alto Adige nowadays. It was the main castle of the nobility of Tirol until the seat moved to Innsbruck (today belonging to Austria) in the 15th century. Continue reading “Schloß Tirol”
Once again in Dorf Tirol
What to do in summer time? For my parents the answer was quite easy: they went with us every year to the same flat in the same building (“Haus Windisch“) in Dorf Tirol, Italy. For them it was a great idea because they knew this place well and nearly everybody speaks German – and we didn’t care for seeing other parts of the world. Continue reading “Once again in Dorf Tirol”
Eisdiele Sabine
The Eisdiele Sabine in Dorf Tirol, Italy is the most important ice cream parlor of my childhood. It is located in Merano and there is a branch in Dorf Tirol which we visited frequently on our yearly trips to Alto Adige. Continue reading “Eisdiele Sabine”
