As I approach closer, there seems to be at least two positions from which to view the track. Either I could turn left and view it closer from the houses on the hillside overlooking the cwm. Another option would be to continue along the road until the track's entrance. I decided to take the shorter road into the houses that overlook the track. There, I joined, rather more quickly than I had desired, a large St Bernard dog overseeing this area!! He almost totally occupied the narrow road that would give me closer views of the 'ice-track'. For all I know, it could be Roberto Seigel's pooch!! Unfortunately, although he didn't look menacing, he didn't answer my questions about access to the track - nicely laid out below us. These dogs don't speak English. From the descriptions given about Roberto, it could be that he lives in one of this group of houses. He is said to live very close to his 'creation'! I had a little discussion with the dog, but his lack of bi-lingual powers made it difficult to ascertain whether the way-ahead would be a good idea. I thus abandoned that idea and went for the 'track-entrance' option. It was somewhat further - but if accessible would provide far better visibility. Even from my dog-accompanied viewing position, I had glimpsed the spectacle of 'joggers' on the track. Even that was sufficient to whet my appetite for closer inspection!! I thus bade farewell to my canine friend (I hope!) and made my way down the road leading closer to the entrance. Turning off the road, I went down its own 'drive' towards the entrance. Its car-park had a number of cars and vans, their occupants either using or servicing this 'great' facility. Finding the entrance door, I then became unsure as to what was required there. My knowledge of Italian is non-existent really, but comprising the equivalent of "Yes", " Please", "Two lemon-flavoured icelollies", "Thank you" - but hardly sufficient to enquire and understand responses relating to a Speed-skating Arena (unless all I wanted was ice- cream!!) Winding my way to the left of the entrance and round the left-hand-side of the track, I realised that I could get the same view, albeit much closer, that I had temporarily shared with the non-English-speaking-dog. The good news is that a track, or drive, goes that way, close to the chain-linked fence. The bad (well- inconvenient!) news is that since it had a one- foot fall of snow, no person or vehicle has used it. Only having my good-treaded but short suede-type walking boots on, I nevertheless decided to press on. So close to the most famous ice-speed-track in the World, I wasn't going to give up at this advanced stage!!! One couldn't see over the fence but one could easily see THROUGH it - for FREE!! There were people individually and in pairs exercising their increasing skills and speeds before my very eyes. It was the equivalent (I guess) of English people doing their lunch-time jog or dip in the local pool. The joggers, however, were going very quickly - singly and in pairs - as well as groups. Going out in 'twos' seemed to be the favourite way of doing things. Even with that, there were two variants. The first of these was a 'side-by-side' format (the equivalent of an English walk-in-the-Park) but good runners, even without the snow and ice, would not have been able to keep pace with them. The second 'pairs-variant' was 'one behind the other', with and without changes in leader. These pairs were higher-speed skaters than those going-side-by-side. Singles-skaters (male and female) were either of the 'jogger' type (much faster than running speed) or seriously crouched-down speed-practitioners. They were, like the in-line skaters, VERY much faster than runners could have been. I viewed the variants from a variety of positions in the snow outside the chain-linked fence. Not only viewing but photographing through the gaps!! A new supply of skaters would emerge, frequently, from the rink entrance to my right and they chose their own methods and format for practice - and eventually return there for relaxation or refreshment. All of the sudden, bursting out-of-the-trap to my right there emerged the fastest person on two legs ever to appear in my direct vision. He travelled about three or four laps at extremely fast ROCKET-LIKE speeds, even round the bends in positions that I have only seen on TV before. Could this be the great Roberto Seigel ?? Even if I had seen nothing else in the Dolomites - that short few laps would have made the whole trip worth while. It was just like the magic of seeing Sammy Miller in his rocket-propelled cars on the Santa Pod drag-strip!! Anyone after that guy was just 'ordinary' - so, in due course, I returned through the deep snow to the entrance area and then to the road-way. There would be a longish walk back to the main village area of Baselga - but here in the higher areas and track-region there was an attractive falling of snow. Lower down, the 'fall' was more 'sleety' but not too heavy. Having got down to the Church & School area, the ground under-foot was becoming a little soggy - as the percentage of rain in the mixture was increasing. However, I managed to get some time in the area and take some photos. Lower down the slopes, the footpaths as well as the roads were becoming very soggy - which meant that the 'suedette-type' boots were beginning to suffer. The were absorbing a vast amount of water - and so were my socks and feet!! I had fears that the boots might have to be written-off. When I returned to my "base-camp-called-Anita", I separated my boots from my socks and from my feet - paying due respect to each of them. Each would be needed again many times before going home!! And after ??? O o - - - O - - - o O Another attractive feature of this visit to the Dolomites is the inclusion of visits to some mountain villages. One morning, after breakfast with the Prescotts and the Davies's, we set out in the coach to Cavelese (via great frozen scenery). When, eventually, we arrived, it turned out to be quite a large village with quite a lot of attractive features. Wandering its streets with the non-skid boots I came across and photographed ice-statues, the Virgin Mary (I think that's what she said her name was), a musical Christmas scene and many other items. Workmen were gathering snow and putting it in boxes. They pushed it down well in what , it became clear later, were moulds - for producing ice-blocks which would, sculpted or not, provide some useful and/or decorative additions to the village.
Further on, we came to the large village of Predazzo where I indulged in a short walkabout. Getting into contact with other people from the hotel I sought an appropriate Restaurant (in prices and dishes) - the fifth one looked very good to three of us - so we entered. All three of us at our table had a separate individual choice. Where-ever I indulge in this-sort-of-thing, the remainder of the party always admires and pays great interest to my choice. This time was no exception!! My choice on this occasion was a "Salade Vegetarione" (or something like that - pardon my Italian) plus a beautiful tasting lager (and I'm not a 'drinker'). This was the best, most attractive food that I have eaten in many years. The attractiveness of the meal was not matched by the waitress's arithmetic!!