I’m sitting across Rosa and Ulrike in their cosy snug, calmly stirring my afternoon coffee. A little chat is simply part of the fun when I’m on holiday. My gaze wanders out of the window from time to time. While the lovely view
of the Latemar hasn’t changed at all, much has happened in the course of the years here at Haus Pichler, as the two private hosts explain. “Only our Rosa is always the same!” Ulrike casts an impish smile at her mother. Rosa has been renting out rooms since 1973 – widowed, a single mother with three small children to raise. What an achievement! With her then 34 years, and much courage and vigour, she borrowed some money, took on the renovation of the house and started her room rental – even though many a guest was quick to advise her differently: “My very first guest, a bank director, told me to borrow lots of money and rebuild the whole house all at once, but I decided to do it step by step.”
Step by step or: stitch by stitch Over the years, Rosa increased her business from three rooms with shared bathroom to four fully equipped rooms and two holiday apartments. „It’s just like knitting, you always start with the first stitch,” she affirms with a bright smile. Right, knitting is Rosa’s passion. She keeps her treasures in a woven wicker basket. There are all sorts of varieties, colours and sizes and they’re a gift reserved exclusively for her regular guests: her socks! “We don’t want no cold feet here!” Rosa gives me a conspiratorial wink.
Two of her guests had better taken a pair of Rosa’s woolen socks with them on their day trip, to keep themselves warm … “I still remember it like it was yesterday,” Rosa tells me, “these two got lost in the woods on their way back here and had to spend the night there. Fortunately, I never go to bed before every single one of my guests has returned from their hike. Of course, I immediately called the police.”
Generation cohesion Well, that’s just how Rosa is, caring, sociable and above all very benevolent. “If someone doesn’t make it down for breakfast until 10.30, we’ll surely serve up a soft-boiled egg and all sorts of food one could wish for also at noon. We’re always happy to make an exception,” the two hosts wish to emphasise.
Ulrike, Rosa’s daughter, has taken over the room rental 5 years ago and is very thankful that her mother is still helping out, despite her proud 80 years. “Our long-time regulars particularly enjoy having a chat with her about the old stories or learning about new hikes and walks,” Ulrike explains.
Together they’re a strong, heartwarming team and they’ll be sending home plenty of guests with wonderful holiday memories and stories to tell – and with a pair of Rosa’s self-knitted woolen socks, of course!
Would you like to get to know Rosa and Ulrike?
Click here to find out more about an exciting and yet relaxing holiday in the very heart of the South Tyrolean Dolomites!