Three locals paraglide over the Seceda Mountain in Italy’s stunning Dolomites

Up, up, and away… that’s how it feels on your way to the summit of Italy’s Seceda Mountain. We had just arrived in the Dolomites, and this was our very first stop. Totally unfamiliar with the region, it sure felt like we were heading to the top, and edge, of the world. We came here right away, because, being an autumn visit, many cable cars shut down for the off-season. The first day of our trip was the last day that the Seceda car was operational, so went made sure to utilize it while we could. Needless to say, we were totally unprepared for the majesty of these mountains.

Also unexpected was that the local experts and guides treat this day like a holiday… as (most of) the tourists depart, the mighty Dolomites once again become their playground. When we reached the summit, there were more locals than tourists! Many of them, like the three in this picture, were taking advantage of the windy day to go paragliding. But most of them were just getting drunk with each other, celebrating some much needed time for themselves.

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