Climb every mountain......

DAY 21***
Today was our last in Tarvisio, and DW was keen to visit the hilltop church of Monte Lussari.

This place holds a special memory for DW, as it was the spot for a family picnic (or similar) on her trip to the area with her mother when she was a child.









In the winter, this hilltop is a ski run, so as the fields were now open and the day gloriously sunny, we took the cabin lift to the top.

If you check carefully in this photo of the cabin-lift, you can see the skiers lining up. The mountain had only sufficient snow to open the very top of the run, so about half way up the mountain we picked up a few Slovenian skiers!

Monte Lussari is another of those ancient Christian churches, having been built here in the 1300's. There was even a nun's convent here, which really makes you admire the tenacity of these early Christians!

a sundial on the church itself......

Isn't this a gorgeous shot?? It is every bit as beautiful in the summer with its green slopes, but today it is full of snowboarders and skiers being very adventurous on the icy run down...

Some of us were just happy to admire the scenery!

Of course, DS & DD found their own ways to have fun on a slope at the rear of the church....

After all this activity there was time for a hot chocolate, a beer and a coffee in one of the restaurants around the hilltop. But it was all too exhausting for some.....

Hiking poles aside, there were the usual trinkets and souvenirs, although these were a bit cute....

But really, it was all about the scenery.........

You can even see the township of Camporosso from up here.......

So, to top off a rather glorious morning, after lunch we proceeded into Tarvisio proper to do what every tourist wants to do in Italy.........

SHOP! 

We felt it was our job to prop up the ailing Euro, and prop it up we did - shoes for DH, DW & DD and new clothes for DD as we had a concert to attend in Vienna in 2 days time. We did not find Europe that expensive this time, a comment also made by another Australian couple we met at the skating ring in Salzburg 10 days ago. 

Oh, and check out the emblem of the city of Tarvisio on this lamp post, spotted on route to the shops - amazing what you notice once it has been pointed out to you! 

As dusk descended it was time (yes, the clock says its 3.40pm!) to return to our abode for the past 10 days, and after another sumptuous meal including Vitello Tonnato this time, it was time to pack our bags, and visit all the various family in the town one last time to say goodbye....

Tomorrow, one of the family is driving us back to Villach, Austria to board a train for Vienna - our final stop - and where we'll celebrate the New Year 2012!