Brian checks and rechecks - Brian do you really have to check again? - yes dear - I believe in belt and braces! - Brian sometimes you just have to let your pants fall down!
Gary and Margaret have risen early and headed back to the hospital - more tests - pleased about the reciprocal medical agreement - the Italians incredibly helpful - refuse to take money for transport or washing.
Head for the station - Tirano not Milano! - the train just a train - past Bellano towards Tirano - love the musical language - the train heads up the valley - vines cling to the steep valley walls - a levee protects farm land - the valley progressively narrows - narrows - narrows - the snow capped peaks approach - Tirano.
Italy to Switzerland - exit the Italian train - 30 metres into the Swiss station - the station pristine - efficiency on display - the regional train to St. Moritz leaves on the second - we have the first class cabin to ourselves - how good is this? - the train climbs and climbs - the travellers initially remain confined to seats - the "ah"s - the expressions of delight - the "look at how many greens there are" - the "look at that"s - the "look over there" become increasingly frequent - the travellers leave their seats - they move from one side to the other as the vistas on either side of the train vie for supremacy - their cameras go into a frenzy - climb- climb -climb - past village - past hut - past cattle refuges - pause to let the tourist packed Glazier Express pass - climb - climb - 2250 metres - past bike trails - past walking trails - past lifts - past the Benina glacier - down towards St Moritz - admire the walkers and riders - the trip? - the best train ride of my life - the decision to take the regional train rather than the Glazier Express? - an accidental master stroke - our fortune at having the cabin to ourselves? - just how lucky are we!
We have coffee and strudel in St Moritz - why? - because we can!
Wait 30 minutes - there is our train to Chur!
Towards Chur - first Swiss highland meadows - into a tunnel - out of a tunnel - forest - steep valley walls - over fast small streams - look back to the snow covered mountains that look down on us - into meadows - green - wild flowers - listen for Julie Andrews - back into a tunnel - forest - meadow - village - postcard - postcard - yellow - yellow - yellow wild flowers - tunnel - shutters click.
Meadows - Greens - yellow blushes punctuate the green - pines striking skywards from a tenuous grip on the steep slopes - the walls are steep but less steep than before - tunnel - what will the next valley bring?
Forest - forest - forest - tunnels - meadows - the views different but nice - stereotypical Swiss? - think so! - in any event the travellers have gone quite - the shutters less active - there is only so much of this majesty that one can absorb in one sitting.
Resolve that if I ever had a bucket list it would include riding a mountain bike down from Alp Grum to Tirano.
We arrive in Chur - a little overcome - we all found the train travel amazing - we recommend the regional train - we recommend travelling from Tirano to Chur rather the other direction.
Ah but this is Switzerland - out for dinner - there is a pub - looks popular with the locals - order a couple of wines - a couple of beers - some schnitzels - very basic - less than plain pub food - $45 per head - the food terrible - the prices almost double Italy - if the locals can afford this then they are certainly taking their cut out of all those Swiss bank accounts.
Absolutely stunning!
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