Cervinia

The ski resort of Cervinia was built they say by Mussolini to help keep his countrymen healthy. It is a large open resort of long pistes mainly in the easier grades, a nightmare for a snowboarder who cant glide. He has to be congratulated however for the Matterhorn which was a touch of shear genius. I was there for the first time with the telemarker Julien and some of his French acquaintances. We had elected to stay high in the Plateau Rossa rifugio to make the most of our two days.

I spent most of the first day walking as far as I boarded, what a frustrating sport this was proving to be. Fortunately the majestic Matterhorn standing proudly over these healthy Italians provided a suitable distraction when things reached desperation point. What a mountain, seen so many times in print, but here it was and it was real.

Our stay in the rifugio was the highlight of the weekend. Being the only people staying we got the full attention of its keepers, an Argentinean and Albanian who seemingly spoke neither French nor Italian. Despite this I communicate in my finest Italian that I was vegetarian, which was greeted with nodding smiles.

Our meal arrived in front of us, it was meat product! I don't just say that because I was a disgusted veggie, but because it really was a strange beast, a kind of exploded sausage of various meaty components covered in a thick brown sauce. This provided entertainment for my companions, but I didn't envy them in this case, and after resorting to gestations I was awarded a cheese omelette, not much for a bruised snow boarder. Our 'meal' was washed down with a variety of vegetarian drinks.

The next morning hungover, and feeling the effects of altitude a storm raged outside. However when it parted at midday we realised our rewards, fantastic pristine slopes stretched out below plastered in powder snow. Fantastic, but I think we had truly earned this little treat.