A Life of Ease at Auener Hof

Tomorrow we will be in the Panda, driving down the mountain toward Bolzano and eventually arriving in Padua.  At the university there, Galileo Galilei was awarded the chair of mathematics.  In the meantime, how do we pass the hours here at Auener Hof?  Here are a few pictures from dinner last evening...

 First course is vegetable cake: note the two butters on the stone in the background.  The dark one is butter that has been mixed with ash from burned birch.  The other is regular butter with a wonderful pepper on top.

Fourth course of turbot and some delicious version of pureed carrots.

Exquisite wine pairings accompanied each of the five courses of dinner, including this wine, which was a blend of riesling and chardonnay.  Amazing!

Dessert...Gala-applemousse with crispy buckwheat towers and raspberry mint sherbet!

BUT!  That's not all.  When one returns to Auener Hof, weary from driving or fatigued from hiking, one can avail oneself of the spa...which we did.  Check this out...

Ooh...relax on anatomically supportive lounges gazing at a garden...

Or enjoy a pine and herb steam sauna or a Finnish sauna.

After the sauna you might want to try the "Adventure Shower"  (We're not making this up).  Pam demonstrates.  The bucket is ice cold water...quite an adventure.  The rest of the shower is warm and lovely.

Upstairs, you can enjoy a roll in the aromatherapy hayloft...

               or relax in a wonderful swing with a view of the surrounding countryside...

and then there's a leisurely soak in a hot tub with a 300 degree view of the Dolomites.

Oh yes, we will miss this place when we return to the 2-star places, but now?  

Time to shower for dinner!  Ciao!