Hiking is not Kathi's pleasure...

“Sorry...you guys are here more often...what else can you do here if you're not hiking or biking?” I asked the neighbors. “Uh...not much...I've never done anything” the friendly - sporty looking - family from Bavaria next door answered me...hm, apparently that's how it's done while camping...just rearranging things in the camper van, chilling in front of it, reading, etc. seems to be the usual camping mode. It seemed easy for me...and yet I couldn't let go of the plan to do this simple but long hike.

...if it weren't for a local couple this afternoon who strongly advised against going up the mountain today. “There's still thunder...it's also quite hot tonight” was the casual South Tyrolean announcement.

Ok - it just wasn't meant to be. I'll go swimming. Although the mentioned thunderstorms actually brushed the country and even some raindrops fell, it was oppressively hot. Arriving at the outdoor pool confirmed a topic that I had previously discussed with said couple.

SWIMMING IS NOT AS 'POPULAR' IN SOUTH TYROL AS IT IS FOR US.

Isn't that somehow absurd?...in this heat? But precisely such peculiarities are part of the interesting stories you hear in other countries and as far as I'm concerned, I like to hear them and tell them...and it was this very story that recently intertwined with the one my mom told me. The story of my grandma's “almost drowning”...and where does Grandma come from...South Tyrol...

Of course, the current generation can mostly swim. However, it's not 'usual' to go swimming. You don't just jump into a lake (which I asked about) but rather into a swimming pool...but even that is rare.

Hmmm...interesting interesting...I thought to myself ...and could hardly believe it when I arrived at the outdoor pool 30 minutes later... I have never seen a lap pool - during the peak summer season - so empty.

I took the opportunity and swam back and forth for an hour. It was wonderfully refreshing and a suitable substitute for hiking in my opinion...yeah...one "Bauern" pizza with corn and arugula please...well-deserved! ;)

BON APPETIT!!!