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SUMMER IN THE SWISS ALPS : Aboard the Bernina Express


Swiss Alps, Rhaetian Railway, Switzerland

Here comes the Bernina Express to the beautiful Alpine mountains. Hello Potterheads, this feels like riding the Hogwarts Express! 🤓

I never wondered how it was like to be in the Alps without all the snow. Maybe because I live in a country with almost eternal summers, I always thought it was permanently blanketed in white. Forgive my ignorance but if it wasn’t for my desire to know (in general), I honestly never could have imagined it differently.

Swiss Alps, Rhaetian Railway, Switzerland

The Swiss Alps in summertime. 072017

BERNINA EXPRESS, VIADUCT, SWISS ALPS

It's more than just picturesque. It's super super beautiful!

LAKE, SWISS ALPS, RHAETIAN RAILWAY

I’m having this adventure with my youngest sister Jana ( I suddenly remembered the school essay she wrote when she was 9 that we, her family members are boring - except for our Dad who had a great sense of humor - she claims to be the only one who makes us all happy. 😜🤣) So, over a decade after, this is where her boring sister took her.

RHAETIAN RAILWAY, BERNINA EXPRESS

Anyway, through the Rhaetian railway onboard the Bernina Express is probably the best way to go. The train is designed to move through the mountains even in the most unforgiving weather.

More than any kind of expectation, the Swiss Alps are stunningly magical and breathtaking! 😍 The scenic views are sooo beautiful.

POSCHIAVO LAKE, SWISS ALPS, RHAETIAN RALEWAY

The lovely Lago di Poschiavo. Elevation : 3,156 ft. above sea level.

RHAETIAN RALEWAY, BERNINA EXPRESS, SWISS ALPS

LAKE, SWISS ALPS, BERNINA EXPRESS, RHAETIAN RAILWAY

WATERFALLS, SWISS ALPS, RHAETIAN RAILWAY, BERNINA EXPRESS

LAKE, SWISS ALPS, RHAETIAN RAILWAY, BERNINA EXPRESS

POSCHIAVO, SWISS ALPS, RHAETIAN RAILWAY, BERNINA EXPRESS

SWISS ALPS, RHAETIAN RAILWAY, BERNINA EXPRESS

After a few hours through the Alpine region - which went by like a few minutes (beauty of nature won over time), we arrived at the impressive town of St. Moritz which I may write about in the future when my brain will need again a little deviation. 😁

SNOW, SWISS ALPS, RHAETIAN RAILWAY, BERNINA EXPRESS

Reached already a very high peak of the Alps on this photo and the tour guide advised that the snow on this mountain never really melted as much as it did today. They never saw the rocks as visible as now. This is one of the effects of worsening climate change. So people, beware about taking care of the environment even in our own little ways.

Moving a step back, we were supposed to start with this trip from Milan on a tour bus to Tirano and take the Bernina Express from there. But my lovely sister (I swear I almost killed her) took too long to prepare so the bus left the city without us.😡 So I decided to get the train from Milano Centrale to Tirano and meet the group from there. Luckily, we arrived earlier and even had time for lunch, got some gelato, and saw a little of the tiny Italian town before getting on.

Tatah! 😘

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NOTEworthies:

We started our journey on the Bernina Express in Tirano, Italy to St. Moritz, Switzerland passing through 55 tunnels and galleries and over 196 viaducts at more than 6,562 ft.above sea level.

The Rhaetian railway was opened in 1904 and was declared a UNESCO Heritage in 2008 for its engineering, architecture and harmony with the environment.

From Tirano, since you are leaving Italy and officially entering Switzerland, you have to submit your passports to the Immigration Officer for border control procedures before hopping into the train.

When you have a day to spare while in Milan, you can get this day tour to Switzerland. I got it online through Viator.

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