Working in Italy

Piet went on a nice business trip last week: a geological excursion in the south Italian Apennines. These trips are offered occasionally for people in the office to "reconnect with the rocks". The aim is to study oil or gas producing reservoirs in the field, and not behind a computer, and to get an appreciation for the variability, scale and detailed properties. This trip started in Naples, then towards the south, back north along the Adriatic coast, and returning through the mountains to Rome, 6 days in total. The weather was beautiful, the food was excellent, the company enjoyable, and Piet even learned a few things! What more can you wish for?

In the end Piet had half a day before returning home, and he took the opportunity to visit Ostia Antica. This is the ancient port of Rome, now some 4 km from the beach, and a huge site with remains of a large city. There are hundreds of houses, temples, baths and a well-preserved theatre. You can wander around for hours, and easily image the buzz during the Roman time. An appropriate ending of an excellent trip!

Looking at carbonate rocks near Salerno

Walking back after visiting some more rocks...

Matera, a UNESCO world heritage site in southernmost Italy

A mosaic in Ostia Antica, in a small shop along the ancient trading square

Summer holidays (part 3)

The last part of the holidays started in three different directions: Paula and Dorien went on a week long horse back camping trip, Piet had to go back to The Hague to return to the office and Mary’s brother Tony, with family, arrived for a week of holiday in France. Paula and Dorien started their trip at the stable in Mizoen, with Cecile and two other girls, and on the first day rode to Col d’Ornon to camp under the stars. The second day they descended to Valbonnais where they stayed for 2 days at a small lake. This allowed the blacksmith to come and fix some horseshoes for the remainder of the trip. Via the Taillefer and Bourg d’Oisans they ended up in Mizoen again, exhausted after a week of horse riding and fun in beautiful weather.

A few days later Paula’s friend Laura arrived to stay for the last 10 days of the holidays. They were allowed to ride small village pony using a cart (which they also used as rickshaw). For the rest they played lots of cards, and went to Cecile a few times to ride and help her with little kids.

When Piet returned it was finally time for some outdoor activities. The backpacks were filled up and we hiked to Refuge de la Selle, one of the mountain huts we hadn’t visited before. It is a spectacular place, with the dining area suspended in the air. When we arrived we left the backpacks and continued to the nearby glacier. We didn’t reach it, but got a good idea for next time. Every year we are planning some real mountaineering, and we are getting closer each time…. After a healthy meal we slept in the dormitory, and the next morning we descended back to St. Christophe. On the way down we lost Paula and Laura, and after a long wait we were getting worried. We split up to look for them, and Mary found them nearby, covered in red spots.. they had been picking raspberries and filled two drinking bottles. So we ate raspberry pie that evening! Two days later we went back to the same area to do the Via Ferrata, a secured rock climb.

The last days were spent in the garden and on the bike, and we had the neighbours over for farewell drinks. Then it was time to clear everything away, close the house, hook up an empty horse trailer, and we drove home to our regular life of office, school and …..horses! More about that later.

Riding in the mountains during the horse - camping trip

Sleeping under the stars: Cecile, Elsa and Dorien

Cecile riding towards Taillefer

Dorien passing Lac Fourchu, near Taillefer

Paula and Laura are making a tour with Image

Spectacular: Refuge de la Selle

Paula is climbing the Via Ferrata of St. Christophe

Mary, Laura and Paula are crossing a suspension bridge on the Via Ferrata

Dorien's shadow is also doing the Via Ferrata