San Cassiano, Alta Badia, 2011 - Day 6, Thursday

Last day of ski school, and the weather is so bad that only the girls and me have turned up. The two other guys in the class have obviously decided that staying indoors is a better option. And they are probably right. Still, it's all good practice and excellent exercise...

Daryl comes up for lunch and the weather clears slightly, so we spend a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon together skiing some lovely runs. Daryl has a great time and regains her confidence, and more importantly, her love for skiing.Result

Then it's back to the hotel to the humdrum routine of a great massage, time in the pool and the Jacuzzi, and a bit of a rest.

Then comes the main event of the day... for me anyhow.

We've booked an evening out at Club Morizino. This involves a trip up the mountain in a snow cat piste bashing machine with a cabin on the back for transporting people to and from a restaurant at the top of one of the mountains. It's cold, noisy, uncomfortable, smelly, and I absolutely love it!It's a mode of transport that I've never tried, and one that is now safely ticked off the list.

The meal itself is superb, and they've taken care of Daryl's allergy without making a big thing of it, which from my point of view is fanbloodytastic – as it is from Daryl's. The starters are served on huge mirrors, which is interesting... Then after a couple of courses, the DJ starts up in earnest and we are encouraged to say hello to our fellow diners. There's a birthday party of Romans behind me – who I have great fun with later; a Milanese couple – he's an ex paratrooper with a passion for Inter Milan; and three North Americans – one a Canadian research scientist living in Milan, one a New Yorker and one a Russian now living and working in New York. It's great to make new friends and the evening just gets better when we're encouraged to go outside to watch a pretty impressive firework display! The Italians start singing a 'firework song'. Who knew there was a specific firework song? It seems the Italians have a song for every occasion...

Then it's back inside for more food and more chat. It turns out the Canadian is also a mad Inter Milan fan and in fact has a tattoo of their snake logo on his arm. I encourage him to show this to the ex-para and they are instantly friends for life! 

After much more dancing and drinking, the evening ends with the trip back down the mountain in the snow cat. This time, it's filled with all our merry friends that we've made this evening. We cadge a free ride back to the hotel and the evening is rounded off perfectly.

A superb outing and one I would have no hesitation in recommending – provided you either go with a large party, or have no qualms about introducing yourself to complete strangers whose language you hardly speak.