<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=9437" rel="attachment wp-att-9437"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-9437" title="P1010175" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/P1010175-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a>

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Northern Italy was slammed with a snowstorm more powerful than native Romeo Mio had ever witnessed in or around Torino.

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I was more than a little bit confused, considering Torino was the host of the 2006 WINTER OLYMPICS.  DOES THIS MAKE ANY SENSE TO YOU???

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The local Italian radio station recounted incident upon incident of crazy, never-before-seen snow havoc.  After the radio announcer declared (and I am not exaggerating in my translation), "I think that's really enough for the moment" and broke away to "<strong><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tr6EldSFwOI" target="_blank">Blue Skies</a></strong>", Romeo Mio and I decided to go for a scenic drive up to <strong><a href="http://www.sacradisanmichele.com/" target="_blank">Sacra di San Michele</a>, </strong>an ancient abby built circa 966 AD.

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Weather Schmeather!  After all, if it were really <em>that bad</em>, the Italians would close the roads, right?

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Here is the view of the road through our eyes that day.

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By the time we reached the grounds of Sacra di San Michele, the temperature was 19 degrees fahrenheit with a strong wind.  What would be your guess -- 10 degrees with the wind chill factor?

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We were the lone ones up there with the exception of the snow truck guy.  I wonder why.

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The mist was so thick that we couldn't see the peak of the Abby.

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<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-9438" title="P1010172" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/P1010172-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" />

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The extreme conditions didn't detract from our pilgrimage.  The numbing cold, wind, and lack of visibility made our experience that more special and sacred.  A memory of a lifetime.