Lake Braies, the majestic

Early this morning, we set out for the Tre Cime, if only to see it, since we didn’t climb it. However, the weather is very changeable; I hope we’ll at least be able to admire these three barren peaks from a distance.

We reach a spot—which happens to be an old restaurant called the Drei Zinnenblick—from where we can see the Tré Cime. Unfortunately, the peaks are hidden by clouds. We decide to stay for about an hour, just long enough for a coffee or two, our eyes still fixed on the mountain, fearing we might never catch a glimpse of them. The wind is blowing hard up there.

We realize just how right we were not to risk the climb. For one thing, we’re really tired, and for another, the gloomy, foggy weather wouldn’t have made for a pleasant ascent.

Finally! Our patience has paid off! For a brief moment, we catch a glimpse of the three peaks. We can finally hit the road again. Our car is absolutely packed with all our gear. It’s really no easy task to move to a new place with all our hiking gear and belongings headed for southern Italy.

On the way to Lake Braies, we stopped at Lake Dobbiaco after driving just about ten kilometers. It looked like a well-known, easily accessible spot with a parking lot, so we took the opportunity to stop.

Lago di Dobbiaco

Formed by a landslide, it’s located in the Puster Valley north of the Dolomites. This lake lies at an elevation of 1,176 m, in the municipality of Dobbiaco, about 22 km from the hotel we’d just left.

It happens to mark the border between the Tre Cime Nature Park and the Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park. Near the lake, there’s a campground and a few restaurants.

This peaceful spot is surrounded by mountains; we take the time to explore just a tiny part of it—a short walk of less than an hour—to take a few photos, since we plan to walk around Lake Braies before finally heading back south toward Italy.

I realize that the Dolomites were also affected by World War II. Bunkers are still visible around the lake. After looking up information online, I found that there are five Italian bunkers, built in 1939 to protect the access routes into Italy.

Lago di Braies

It still takes over an hour to walk all the way around the lake, and every view is equally stunning, with the mountains and the water. The Dolomites—a wonderful place where the mind can rest.

Calm washes over my mind; the constant stream of thoughts subsides. It’s been a long time since my mind has had a little respite—a moment of tranquility; I might even call it a sense of fulfillment. I just feel like my brain’s super-high revs are finally slowing down to the lowest setting. It feels incredibly good—I’m finally resting for the first time in a long while. Even though, as strange as it may seem, we’ve been pushing ourselves for several days now.

I know it’s short-lived, given what awaits me in Belgium, and even though I’m recharging my batteries to face this life that moves at TGV speed—a life I have and love just the way it is.

Even though at times, I’d love to be able to dodge certain things that cast a shadow over my otherwise bright daily life.

This connection with nature, the vibration of everything around me. The water, the trees, the plants, the insects, the rock—sometimes cold, sometimes warm. It all vibrates with an energy that transcends me from all sides. It flows through my fingers, up my arms to my brain, and then back down through my bloodstream to my feet. At least, that’s how I feel.

One moment, we’re together for some wild photo breaks; the next, we’re each in our own world, enjoying the view and this beautiful encounter: Lago di Braies.

The trail around the lake is nearly 4 km long, with ups and downs; the lake sits at an elevation of 1,496 m. It’s one of the deepest lakes in the region. In fact, this lake is surrounded on three sides by Dolomite peaks, including the Croda del Becco. For the record, the hotel on the lakeshore was the site of one of the final episodes of World War II.

After completing the loop in just over an hour, we stopped at the restaurant and bar for an aperitif. We’d earned it after our hikes in the Dolomites. We congratulate ourselves—even though Mala and I are quite the athletes, our third travel companion, Quentin, has discovered a new passion.