Narrow Roads, Missed Meals, and Why the View Is Always Worth It
Good morning from Funes, Italy…
at the base of the Dolomites. Or Dolomite. Or Dolomiti. I’ll figure that out eventually.
The sun was just beginning to catch the jagged edges of the mountains across the valley when I started whispering into the camera. Partly because it was early… partly because other people were still sleeping… and partly because mornings like this don’t ask to be spoken over.
I’d already been shooting time lapses from the balcony. That alone felt like a win.
The Roads You Don’t See in the Photos
I had a plan for the day.
Plans are important… even if you don’t fully execute them.
What I didn’t plan for was just how narrow these roads would be. One lane. No shoulders. Occasional pullouts. Vans that somehow take up the entire width of the road and still keep coming.
White-knuckle driving doesn’t really show up in travel photos.
But it’s part of the deal.
I complained about it… a lot.
Even while surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery I’ve ever seen.
That’s on me.
A Small Place, a Simple Stay
I don’t think I ever really showed the room.
This place… Residence Töglhof (close enough)… wasn’t extravagant. Under a hundred bucks a night. Small. Functional. Perfect. A place that understands why you’re there.
Room to unpack camera gear.
A bathroom that works.
A balcony that steals the show.
Sometimes that’s all you need.
A Note on Food (and Timing)
Here’s your practical tip for the day.
Eat.
And when you see a grocery store… stop.
I didn’t time things well the day before and learned quickly that small towns don’t bend their schedules for hungry travelers. Noon to 3:30 is sacred. Kitchens close. Stores close. People drink beer and enjoy the view.
So I adjusted. Grabbed snacks. Water… accidentally carbonated. Apples. Pistachios. Pasta later.
Lesson learned.
Exploring Without Forcing the Shot
Midday light isn’t friendly.
I knew that going in.
This wasn’t a day for epic photography. It was a day for scouting, walking, and seeing what the terrain actually feels like under your feet. Wildflowers. Snow patches. Thin air. Wind.
I carried the camera anyway.
Not to force images… but to justify curiosity.
Sometimes the camera isn’t there to make a photo.
It’s there to give you permission to explore.
A Missed Location and a Quiet Win
Late in the day, I tried chasing another location. Confusing directions. Narrow roads. A farmer who was not thrilled to see cars where they didn’t belong.
That one didn’t work out.
But I ended the day with a different view… one I hadn’t planned on. Tripod out. Vertical pano. Simple composition. Nothing fancy.
Not the shot I had in my head.
But a good ending to a full day.
Tomorrow is for sunrise.
If I can figure out how to get there.
As always… more on all of this later.