I went to the Italian Alps for the Winter Olympics. Here are 6 things that surprised me most about the experience.

"My first Olympic Games in Paris were defined by swimming arenas, metro transfers, and navigating summer crowds. So, I expected my second round, the Winter Games in Milan Cortina, to feel similar, just colder. I was wrong. Instead of stadiums in the heart of a capital city, we found ourselves crossing a national border and trudging uphill in snow boots, hearts racing at altitude to attend skiing and snowboarding events in Livigno."

"There are hotels in Livigno, but by the time we were booking, options were limited, and prices had surged into the thousands of dollars for a few nights. Staying there simply wasn't realistic for us, so the most practical and budget-friendly option was just across the border in Switzerland. That meant each morning began with a 40-minute bus ride up the mountain from Zernez. The decentralization seemed like it'd be logistically challenging, but it felt more like a part of the intrigue of these Games."

"When I attended the Summer Olympics in Paris, I found it easy to grab tickets for events happening in the city that same afternoon. However, attending the Winter Games required much more planning. Events for the Milan Cortina Games are spread across multiple host cities, including Milan, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Livigno, and others, which makes bouncing between competitions more complicated. Milan and Cortina sit nearly 250 miles apart by road, making for a roughly five-hour drive."

Attending the Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina required crossing an international border, long daily bus rides, and mountain treks in snow boots at altitude. Limited hotel availability in Livigno and steep prices made staying in neighboring Switzerland the most practical option, with a 40-minute bus ride from Zernez each morning. Beginning coverage in the Alpine town that hosted freestyle skiing and snowboarding eased the transition into two weeks of winter sports. Events were spread across multiple host cities, increasing travel time, limiting same-day ticket opportunities, and demanding much more planning than a compact Summer Games.

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