Italia - Vogue edition

I think I've rambled on long enough for you to know that I've recently returned from a vacation in Italy - The Dolomites to be exact! 

A picture of a map of the Dolomites (I hope)

The boo and I were attending the boo's good friend's mountain wedding, after which we stayed on to do some hiking.

I've decided to split this post into the glamorous part followed by the rugged part (rugged because I totally conquered that mountain like a yeti).

Day 1 - We landed in Munich airport (Initial perceptions: so organised, so clean, much like Singapore, more to come in a later post) and rented a car (an Opel because EUROPE baby) and drove the 4 plus hours to San Casssiano in Alta Badia.

The couple provided accommodation for the duration of the wedding festivities at Rosa Alpina which is luxurious while being quaint and cosy (is that even possible? Who knows? Maybe my English just fails). 

The main part of the bedroom where the magic (sleeping) happens

There's complimentary dark chocolate on the table. I totally ate that.

A small walk in wardrobe? Don't mind if I do.

The bathroom that's the size of a small country

A small balcony for us to yell at people down below from

We quickly unpacked and headed down for a late lunch in the hotel's bar & grill. Totally devoured my food.

Delicious pasta as first Italian meal. Check.

It had snowed for a few days prior to our arrival and the snow was actually in the process of defrosting but we thought we'd venture out for a short hike (also to prevent jet lag from totally destroying us).

You will not defeat me mountain/jet lag!

Actually beautiful ok???

We hiked up a nearby hill and ok it looks super bleak and depressing in the photo but it was actually really gorgeous and only about maybe 2-5 degrees celsius so it was quite manageable. Plus I got to throw snow/ice balls at the boo while he flew his drone around.

The sun was beginning to set so we headed back to Rosa Alpina for a relaxing dip in the hot tub!

Yes, there is a pool too but nope, didn't swim, looked cold. Plus. Lazy.

Like a boss. LOL.

HAHAHAHAHA omg that picture just cracks me up. If I wind up dead tomorrow. You know who did it.

The pamper party didn't stop there yo. There was a steam room and a sauna too but no photos because all the photos are just steamed up and lame. Let's just enjoy the photo from above one more time.

Don't kill me please.

Anyway, then, because we're fancy pants, we went for a luxurious body massage in the hotel's spa (it was quite expensive but not as good as the best massage I've ever had in the world (Como Phuket omg drooool).

Bathrobes always equates to relaxation. Or Hugh Hefner. Whatevs.

We were ready to pass out after so we headed to the hotel's bar and grill and ate....

Pizzzzzzaaaaaaaaaa & burgerrrrr

Not unhealthy AT ALL. Major food coma ensued. 

Day 2 - Wedding festivities introduction. Most of the guests were arriving at various times on this day so the couple planned out some awesome activities for the guests. It began with a 7am yoga class which was very relaxing and slow paced. So much breathing. It took place indoors next to the swimming pool. 

NOMS time. We ate a sumptuous breakfast in the hotel's dining lounge fit for an Italian king.

IMUNNAEATCHOO

The fruits are really fresh and sweet and juicy, and there were a huge assortment of jams, pastries, and various spreads (like NUTELLA OMG YESSSS) and the crepe was so sweet and yummy (I had 2 per breakfast).

But all those calories needed to be burned so a short while later, we took a short van ride to the start of the trail that would lead us to Scotoni Hut. 

The beginning

Hiking in a tank top in 10 degrees celsius past a llama.

I thought it would be easypeasy but it was actually pretty challenging as there were a lot of uphill bits. But when we got up, it was totally worth it...

You pretty thing.

We got up to Scotoni Hut, took a short break and then proceeded to climb even further up to a beautiful lake. 

Pro photo skills Alex. *Self five*

I jumped around and climbed on a bunch of rocks and drew my name in the snow and tried to hug some strangers' dogs (in case you were afraid I didn't have my priorities in order). Then we headed back down to Scotoni hut for the yums. 

2040m above sea level. That's high right?

This is like some rad grilled mix plate with ribs, sausages, veg, potatoes.

Actually there was a lot of food but I didn't take more photos because I was busy stuffing my face. 

After lunch, there were a couple of options to get back but we chose the longest option ever and ended up hiking back. If the Italians in the Dolomites ever tell you something is like an hour long, multiply that by like 2.5 just to be safe. Even all their signs are misleading. It's like mountain time or something. Sherpas be like yo, I can climb this mountain in like an hour (but they have crazy strong legs and butts and can probably do leg lifts with me as the weight while eating a pizza).  

But it was beautiful and rewarding because I can totally eat a pizza now and think about doing leg lifts.Waitaminute that's not how that works.

The welcome dinner started with an olive oil and wine tasting. By then I was so hungry I was ready to drink the olive oil. Then we proceeded to the bar and grill for MORE FOOD. 

Alex wears stuff

Beautiful dinner setting

DESSERT!

Successful day! ZZZZZZ. 

Day 3 - The main wedding festivities took place on Saturday. The couple had organised an early morning hike for the adventurous but I couldn't get out of bed so we missed it :(

After the delicious but guilt-ridden breakfast, we got ready for the snazziest mountain formal wedding ever. A bunch of us walked a short distance to the gondolas (kind of like cable cars to us Singaporeans) which then brought us up the mountain where we walked another 10 Dolomites minutes (Singapore 25 minutes). If you're wondering, what is mountain formal. It is sadly not this: 

But quite close... On those days I don't shave.

Kickin' it in mountain formal.

Formal attire with sensible shoes because the ground is wet/soggy/not easy to walk on but seriously, converse is so awesome I thought it totally made the look. 

After the hike, we got to the wedding ceremony venue. It was seriously breathtaking. While the guests waited, we sipped on champagne and listened to an acoustic guitarist play some soft tunes. 

Imagine getting married with that backdrop. Stunning.

For throwing, not eating.

To respect the privacy of the bride, groom and guests, I won't be including any obvious pictures of them but just believe me, the couple looked great, as would happen when you're in love, and I don't think there was a dry eye in the house (errr... mountain) after they said their vows.

We walked a short ways upwards to the lunch venue which was outdoors and seriously beautifully decorated. The table setting is enough to make we want to quit my job and become a florist.

I was seated at this table

 And then.... FOOD. 

I ate all this and more.

A cake of cheese is the best damn wedding cake idea ever.

We followed this lovely affair by going for a brisk jog and doing weights in the hotel's gym. KIDDING! We napped and it was great. 

After our food-induced snoozefest, we dolled ourselves up all pretty for the black tie dinner. Look at James Bond over there. It's not a phone for wefies, it's a deadly weapon which shoots lasers and mini grenades. 

Martini, shaken, not stirred.

I sat at the table called Saxifraga and you know it's cos I'm a sexifraga.

 

The speeches by the bride's uncle, groom's friend and brother, and the song by the two fathers of the couple made this intimate affair even more memorable and touching. The groom and bride both made speeches that elicited laughter but also more tears so basically omg it was just the most romantic wedding I think I've ever attended.

This super important cake that might actually be a UFO with fruit on it which is the size of Texas (maybe, I don't know geography), appeared and we ate it big time. And by 'we' I mean 'me'.

Then drinking and dancing happened!

The lobby of the hotel turned into a little disco and the couple did their first dance! Then everyone joined in as the band played some pretty old classics.

The groom brought in a whole bunch of fancy whiskeys... So that people could get their drank on and as I love to say it, get so dranks we fellz down! The boo also commented the following day, "I didn't take any photos of us because I was busy taking photos of the whiskey".

After everyone started getting... a little tipsy... the DJ came out to keep the party going. I'd like to lay claim to the longest most energetic and stupidest dance off ever to have happened in the Dolomites. Classic moves such as the chicken, the grocery shop, and the hula hoop were busted out that special night.

One thing I really thought was awesome was how I could drink champagne, then run back to the table near the dining lounge and eat cheese. YAAAASSSSS. The cheese was free flowing. Then some pasta came out and I thought maybe I had died and gone to heaven.

But as you know, all good things must come to an end. And to quite an end indeed. Below is a perfect example of someone who looks totally cool but is hungover and has to wear shades to brunch. 

So that concludes the glamorous part of our Italy trip. Stick around for the next post which will show me getting all rugged and tough like the badass that I am.

Oh how rude, to end with a picture of a drunken man. I think this is much better...

Sexifraga much. Yes. They have a tanning bed.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! (Sorry if I made you voms.)

Thanks for reading!