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.
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| 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.
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| Our local guide, Peter |
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| The Catholic Church |
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| with its fanciful drain pipes |
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| Gorgeous interior decoration |
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| And VERY creepy open air crypts |
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| Can you see what's inside? |
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| From the ancient |
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| To the Renaissance-inspired |
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| And if they tax glass, but you still want windows... |
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| Just paint them on! |
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| Every town needs one |
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| The "Bier Halle" |
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| 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.
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| 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:
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| The Ibex, Graubunden Canton's "mascot" |
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| Look! A waterfall! |
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| 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.
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| It WAS our honeymoon, after all! |
The Duck was about to fly away. . . . . .
Our trip today:
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