Lees in France

Randy and I have different parts of the trip that excite us. Today is my exciting adventure. I have been looking forward to this day of the trip since I stumbled across it during my initial research. We will take the Bernina Express Panoramic Train over the Swiss Alps to Italy. Imagine snow covered fields, mountains, lakes, and glaciers for 4 hours! 

In the back of mind I have to be realistic (so my disappointment level can be in check) and remind myself this year is a terrible year for snow in the Alps. I found my outfit a month ago. Yes, I wanted an outfit, as crazy as it sounds. I wanted a “Switzerland style” sweater. My good French/American friend, Anne, nicely suggested just a nice warm fleece will do. She said wearing a “Switzerland style” sweater in Switzerland is like an American coming to Paris and buying a béret and wearing it the entire French trip. (It is a silly look to French citizens.) Ok, Ok, I took her advice and found a solid sweater/fleece pullover….at a gas station/rest stop on our way to the Millau Viaduct. This incredibly rare find made me super happy as well. Randy commented to the kids that it was my “best day ever” when I found the sweater!!!!

All aboard, and we are off! The beginning of the trip included climbing into the tops of the Alps, listening to the history of the region via their app, purchasing coffee from the coffee cart, and perfecting our technique on taking pictures through a glass window. The small villages were picturesque despite their patchwork snow blankets. We eventually found bright blue skies which gave us new shadows to behold. A Christmas tree farm was unexpected.

A window, a window, I found a way to open a tiny window in between the cars to take pictures without a glare! This was another exciting time for me. The open window did more than just allow me views without glare, it allowed me to feel the cold brisk air on my face, enjoy the top of the Alps, and be extra creative with my phone. Luckily I have a ring on the back of my phone, which gives me the ability to NOT DROP my phone when hanging outside of a moving train. 

A quick photo stop was next on the list. Back on the train we glide over the bridges and through the woods to Switzerland’s land we flow. The track knows the way to carry the train through the vast and quiet snow, oh! (Thank you Lydia Maria Child 1844) With my head out the window I had to watch for upcoming tunnels, just like classic scenes in the movies involving a train chase.

Randy took amazing quiet scenes along the ride.

Photo stories I did not expect to discover along the way…cross country skiing finish line, logging train cars, a rugged looking guy at one of the stations and a lifebuoy. Could this buoy be to rescue someone during a summer thaw with bursting streams or a symbol of a hidden bunker made during WWII?

Finally we crossover into Italy. The snow has melted. We end the trip with a spiral descent on a really cool bridge.

We exit the train and board a new one bound for Florence, Italy.