From the quaint little gasthaus in the Bavarian country side (where you could bring the dog to breakfast room) it was off to Innsbruck, Austria, and then on to the Brenner Pass and the autostrada down to Bolzano (…but first some queueing to charge the car). The autostrada, which links Italy to northern Europe, is extremely heavily trafficked with both trucks and tourists. It moves very slowly to the pay station at the start of the motorway. There is always seems to be roadwork going on along here, and it’s hot and frustrating.

Despite the heat and the congestion, it is probably one of the most beautiful roads you can drive on, which at least partially makes up for the frustration. The lanes are narrow and speeds are high. There is no open speed limit, like some sections of the German autobahns, but between the convoys of trucks in the right lane and the German tourists and Italian locals road raging in the left lane, you have to be on your toes at all times.

The GPS takes us directly to the parking under Piazza Walther, in the center of Bolzano. The Meta Suites, our hotel is just around the corner from the Piazza. When we check in we are offered a glass of wine and told to relax while the staff completes the paper work. Our room is big with high ceilings. It has a view to the mountains, and it’s airconditioned! We are right in the center of Bolzano just as we had wished.

We bring up our stuff from the car and then take a walk around the city. This is our third visit and we have really come to like this place. It has a sense of germanic order to it but with a distinct latin charm and character.

Dinner is on the hotel terrace overlooking the piazza. A fantastic meal with some really great local wine. Here Cooper is welcome to join us. After dinner, another walk around the streets and alleys and some gelato to cool off. We end the day with a Limoncello Spritz at a table at one of the bars on the piazza as darkness falls. Love sitting here with a view of the cathedral, dwarfed by the mountain behind it taking in the night life. Then a short walk back to our airconditioned hotel room and a good nights sleep.