"Fattore K"...

I unfortunately did not get to spend as much time at the wine tasting in Verona the other weekend due to a last minute conflicting engagement.

So…this post is going to be dedicated to Karezza (or Carezza).

Now I do not want people to think I am writing about Karezza just to write about something…a kind of half-ass or sub-par posting.

I had been planning on dedicating at least one posting to Karezza. Actually, more than 1 may need to be devoted to this brilliant place, and specifically to the unbelievably interesting, fun and fantastic group of people I met over New Years.

Yes, Karezza is where Chiara and I spent an intimate and tranquil New Years Eve (and the first few hours of New Years Day)…with a crew of about 40 people.

Picture in the lower right is from New Years - in the middle is Alberto (Chiara's brother) with his classy lady Giulia on the left and Roberto (the first victim of an influenza that roughly 50-60% of the people from New Years ended up getting) on the right.

Some facts on Karezza:
1. Located in the Dolomites
2. Great place to ski, snowboard, cross-country ski, romp around in the snow…whatever your pleasure
3. Known for having one of the most beautiful lakes in Italy, Lago di Carezza
4. Location of the Grand Hotel Karezza (inaugurated on July 8, 1896). Winston Churchill regularly stayed in this hotel with his wife, as well as Agatha Christie
5. Agatha Christie actually set the plot for one of her novels here, The Big Four

Back to New Years…

The intriguing, wonderful and unique thing about the New Year’s Eve crew is that they all have been going to Karezza for the past 10, 15, 20+ years...to ski, eat a slightly unhealthy amount of speck (actually that may just have been me - btw, speck is a salt-and-cold-smoke cured ham, similar to proscuitto, but boned before curing and super tasty and originally from the region of Alto Adige/Sudtirol), partake in Apres Ski and more importantly, to take a breath, relax, laugh their asses off and just have a damn good time and forget about everything else...which you can’t help doing when you are in Karezza, especially with this particular group of people.

But I need to warn anyone planning on visiting Karezza about something...“Fattore K” or Factor K. You are bound to catch this after spending 2-3 days there. Nothing serious. It basically explains why everyone in Karezza is a bit off their rocker.

And once you have it…sorry, you’re stuck with it.

As you can tell from the photo above, Chiara is suffering from a terrible case.

And I don't think she would have it any other way.

- Zucca