Day 23: Tirano to Bregenz

 Wednesday July 3rd. 

Tirano ( Italy) to Bregenz (Austria) via Chur (Switzerland) 

An early start with breakfast at 7am ready to board the Bernina Express for the four hour journey in the panorama car. 

As people boarded a giant game of jenga ensued as people with huge suitcases tried to balance them by size into a fairly small space. Neil opted for the train anorak option photographing the engine, the carriages etc etc. 

Right on time we were off smoothly moving down the track which at points ran down the middle of the road. We plugged into the free audio guide and what followed was described by Neil as the best journey he’d ever experienced. It was a shame that the weather was cloudy. 

The train climbed higher and higher via curves, switchbacks, tunnels, viaducts and tight bends through increasingly stunning alpine scenery. 

After half an hour the guard came to inspect tickets. The blood drained from Neil’s cheeks as he realised he had forgotten to activate a travel day on the app. In effect we were travelling without a valid ticket. As Neil struggled to select the correct icons the guard muttered ‘You’ll have to pay for a ticket’. Neil looked horrified knowing the tickets would be around £300. The guard sensing his alarm then helped him to deselect the train’s WiFi and denote a travel day. Finally it worked with huge sighs of relief all round!

This UNESCO world heritage route ascends to Alp Grum at 2091 metres where everyone can get out and take photos at the Bernina Pass. 

Snow covered peaks, waterfalls and shrinking glacier views were punctuated with lush glacial valleys often with tiny settlements hugging the steep mountain sides. 

The train line which primarily runs through Switzerland, was inaugurated in 1905 ; built mostly by the Italians for the amusement of tourists. 

Not everyone appreciated the scenic vistas. 

After the pass the train descends through a series of picturesque valleys,

 

over bridges

and past mini castles on vertiginous ledges eventually dropping down to Chur where we disembarked and  had a quick walk around the old town before lunch. 

Re boarding a new train for the penultimate journey into Austria we travelled upstairs

through scenic valleys. By the time we reached Bregenz it was pouring and so donning coats we scampered onto the harbour train. It was excellent to be met on the station platform by a smiling Franz who drove us to his home and welcomed us into the annexe ( our base for the next six nights) Fingers crossed for a dry day to explore tomorrow.