With the feet firmly planted on the ground, the spirit hovers in lightheartedness. The cuisine of the Val Pusteria-Pustertal can be similarly described, as its down-to-earth traditional dishes have been influenced by the tempting nuances of Mediterranean cuisine in the wisest and most tasty ways.
One more reason for your mouth to water, if the menu promises Schlutzkrapfen, Tirtlan, Speckknödel or Erdäpfelblattlen [ravioli, fritters with herb filling, dumplings with farmer’s bacon, or deep-fried potato cakes] along with light pasta dishes – and of course the Italian coffee culture.
Are we there yet? How much longer? The youngest hikers and climbers do not hesitate to say out loud what the grownups are thinking in silence. So overwhelming is the trail with all of its beauties of nature, so inviting to rejoicing after the miles that steal one’s energy is the goal, namely, stopping off at the Alpine refuge.
Just as numerous as the trails and climbing routes in the lovely landscapes and nature parks – for example, the Fanes-Senes-Braies/Fanes-Sennes-Prags, Puez/Odle-Geisler, and Vedrette di Ries-Aurina/Rieserferner-Ahrn nature parks or the mountain landscapes around Fundres-Pfunders, Valle di Casies-Gsies, the Alpe di Rodengo-Rodenecker Alm or the area around Brunico-Bruneck with hiking and strolling paths – that’s how rich the area is in attractive possibilities for stopping off for a hot or cold drink or a bite to eat.
Finally arriving, hungry and thirsty. Alpine refuges proffer that special something, namely, hospitality at the highest level: a luxury that can be read in the well-earned laugh lines around the warm eyes of the innkeepers and tasted in the simple, authentic dishes. The mountain does not accept compromises.
