Return to the Nest

After an evening of shared experiences, social networking and a snapshot or two, it was time to realize that our trip was nearing its end. In the morning, after one last cup of coffee served by our Romansch waiter, 

The last cup

The hotel dining room

we were a bit saddened to say "good bye" to St. Moritz and board the Bernina Express once again for Chur. 

We woke to a wonderful sight: it had snowed overnight in the mountains around St. Moritz! In a country renowned for its winter sports, we had not experienced snow (except in the distance) until today. The weather during the entire trip had been amazing, and this was no exception!

Torn between wanting to stay much longer and experience more of this wonderful country and getting home to comforts we take for granted, we loaded our bags aboard the train that would take us on our last leg of this Swiss Journey.

Somehow the air was more somber this morning even as majestic views rounded every turn of the track. More pictures of pastures and peaks; however, this time lacked the playful banter of "waterfall on the left," or "great view on the right." We were headed home, weighed down with souvenirs, suitcases, memories and even some laundry needing to be done.

Our hosts had packed another healthful and hearty lunch for the trip and the wonderful scenery rolled by our window as we chewed both on our sandwiches and our thoughts spanning the last ten days. Another change of trains at Chur. By now we had become accustomed to the efficiency, cleanliness and comfort of the Swiss transportation system. Thoughts of "why can't we have something like this at home" flirted with our sub-conscious as we carried our bags aboard the train bound for Zurich. A quick change was made there to the S7 to Kloten, where our hotel was located just a short distance from the airport.

Checking in around 1400 hours, we had an afternoon and evening free until dinner at 1900. Off once again with our rail passes on the S7 and last minute shopping in Zurich! Confident we were no longer tourists and strangers, our steps were sure and swift with the everyday pedestrian traffic working or shopping. Some chocolate here; a gift for family there; and even something for us; all made with Swiss Francs to be used up. Why bother with exchange kiosks or banks - - we were here to shop, sightsee and savor the experience, right?

Breakfast the next morning was a combination of one last Swiss epicurean delight coupled with farewell exchanges as many of us were going home on different flights and different times during the day. The S7 took us directly to the airport and the efficiency of the country's customs and airline system sped us through to a spacious concourse replete with shops, restaurants and cafes juxtapositioned with the snack bars and vending machines typical of many U.S. airports. Viva la differance!

Early, as usual, we used the airport WiFi and waited for our flight.

And prepared ourselves for a return to US food!

The SwissAir portion of the flight home wrapped us in the comfort of their country. Once in Chicago's O'Hare environs we realized that Dorothy had lost her red shoes, Toto was an ankle biter, and the Wizard a fraud who couldn't control the weather, left us short of fuel and delivered us late into the night where everything was closed on our arrival.

We wish to take a moment here on this last blog occasion for some personal comments and thanks. First, Peggy's parents, who gave us such a wonderful wedding present we will never forget. Second, to our new found friendships and traveling companions who made our honeymoon fun and memorable in their own way.  Of course, words cannot express the feelings we have for our hosts, Adrea John, Rauati Erni, and Debb Christenson and their tireless efforts at answering our questions; keeping us on time; seeing to our requests; and most especially for extending their warm friendship without which this excursion would have analogous to a Carnival Cruise ship disaster. . . LOL!

We sincerely hope you enjoyed sharing our trip either vicariously through the blog or by way of remembrance of the journey you took with us. Please stay in touch; our travel paths may cross yet again on another "adventure" Peggy and I are wont to take. If you know someone traveling to Switzerland for this or another trip, feel free to point them to our blog in hopes that it will help in their preparation and enjoyment.

Some final photos of things we will never forget:

Flowers

In windows

hung with lace curtains

Down-filled Duvets

Airing in the windows

Fountains

Waterfalls

Using the prefix "Mc" in front of anything--we guess that makes it "cool."

Lastly, we really do miss "a short walk, about 10 minutes, slightly uphill." following the Duck.

David and Peggy

PREGO. . .and other Swiss words

We've come almost full circle in our visit to Switzerland. After breakfast and coffee served by our Romansh waiter, Susanne Felder, our guide, gave us insights to the multilingual Mountain Canton area of Graubunden. As a last side trip, the Duck led us today through the Bernina Pass to the village of Poschiavo. This, obviously, is situated close to Northern Italy and is influenced in language, the arts, architecture, food, religion and hospitality.

Downhill, thankfully, we followed the Duck to the train for Pontresina where the adventure of a lifetime awaited us aboard a Postal Bus over the Bernina Pass driven by an erstwhile Italian race driver. David claims to be fearless, but kept looking for the door as we descended for a chance to save himself and "bail out." Our driver gave whole new meaning to the term "free wheeling" on switchbacks and narrow roads skirting sheer drop offs. We did arrive, however, safely at our destination.

Can you see the road we've travelled?

Our first stop was lunch, which frankly, many of us weren't sure we had the "stomach" for after our roller coaster bus ride, but the outdoor cafe was so charming and the food delicious. We slowly got our sea legs again and were ready to tour Poschiavo.

Poschiavo is a step back in time. It has the look and feel of the Italian Renaissance. Peter, our local guide, took us on a walking tour of churches, houses with faux windows, gardens, literal ancient homes, facts and figures that took one back centuries, and a quaint town center dominated by the Hotel Albrici with open air tented dining tables and market stalls.

Our local guide, Peter

The Catholic Church

with its fanciful drain pipes

Gorgeous interior decoration

And VERY creepy open air crypts

Can you see what's inside?

From the ancient

To the Renaissance-inspired

And if they tax glass, but you still want windows...

Just paint them on!

Every town needs one

The "Bier Halle"

The Reformed Church, just down the square from the Catholic Church

Most amazing is the sense of history and of a culture within a culture. Separated by a mountain, the next valley over seems like a different world even though it is part of the same country. Italian murals and architecture seem markedly at odds with Swiss chalets and pastures; yet, the hillsides sport a combination of cows and grape vines that seem to blend the area in with the rest of the country.

Our visit was all too short and the Duck led us back to the train station for a return trip to St. Moritz via the Bernina Pass and a different viewpoint vis-a-vis the bus. The Bernina Express is the highest mountain railway in Europe and passes through 55 tunnels, over 196 bridges and viaducts, and is a most beautiful experience of the Alps and its glaciers. This is train travel at its best. Panoramic windows encourage you to stand up and photograph spectacular views despite comfortable seating. Although we traveled in the summer months, there was plenty of snow and ice to be seen. Deep valleys, green pastures and falling waters greeted you around every curve and switchback the train traveled.

Time to head back to St. Moritz

Having spent the better part of two weeks on Swiss trains, we had gotten used to it. We were hardly surprised to see this coming down the aisle on the front of the refreshment cart:

The Ibex, Graubunden Canton's "mascot"

Look! A waterfall!

There were times when you just need a nap!

This video shows the same trip we took, but in reverse, from St. Moritz to Poschiavo. The sound track is a little weird, but the scenery is just as we remember it: amazing!

Back in St. Moritz, we traveled one more walk with the Duck "slightly uphill" to our hotel and an evening farewell gathering. So many new friends; so many new adventures; so many photos and memories. Despite the initial rigors, we were all heartier and hale and, in a way, did not want our journey to end. Tomorrow would bring one last train trip to our hotel near the airport and separate journeys home the following morning. Tonight was for laughter, libations, stories and souvenirs.

It WAS our honeymoon, after all!

The Duck was about to fly away. . . . . .

Our trip today:

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