Trip to the Swiss Alps

On this map, I drew the route our tour took from Milan to St. Moritz, Switzerland. I believe that we took part of the same route back to Milan, but the sun went down and I took a nap and wasn’t paying attention. This was a 12–hour tour starting in Milan: a 3–hour bus drive north to Tirano, Italy, next a 2 1/2–hour train trip through the Swiss Alps to St. Moritz, Switzerland, and then back to Milan by bus. The tour was to leave at 7:30 a.m. from the Zani Viaggi office near the Castello, but since breakfast wouldn’t be served at our hotel until 7 a.m., I arrived at 6:30 a.m. to eat breakfast before the tour. Since it was still very dark outside, I was a bit nervous that the information the tour company gave me about a cafe next door to them opening early was correct. It was and some of my tourmates were already there. Some of Milan’s prices: orange juice (freshly squeezed), two cookies––the breakfast rolls hadn’t arrived yet, and coffee, 13 euros.

Trip to the Swiss Alps

We took our tour on a very small bus, with a row of single seats on the right side of the bus and a row of two seats together on the left side. Since I was alone, I sat on the right side. However, the sun was shining in the bus window and it interferred me being able to take good photos. So, if you ever take this trip, sit on the left side of the bus. We had a full bus––a family of 5 from Venezuela; a man from Costa Rica; a woman from the U.S. Midwest but originally from Puerto Rico; an older couple from Australia; an Indian couple from London; a delightful tourmate, Sally, from Australia; a man who didn’t talk to anyone; and me. On board also was our excellent young woman tour director named Margarita, who gave the tour both in Spanish and English. We stopped for coffee at this cafe along with road.

Trip to the Swiss Alps

One of the few photos that came out on our way to Tirano. An Italian village in the hills.

Tirano, Italy

Three hours later and here we were in Tirano, Italy. Tirano is on the Swiss/Italian border. It is a well–kept town. We had a bit of time to sightsee and to pick up something for lunch before we boarded our train to Switzerland.

Tirano, Italy

The beautiful basilica in Tirano. I haven’t been able to find information about when it was built.

Tirano, Italy

The basilica from the back and its bell tower.

Tirano, Italy

Very old houses on the hill above the town.

Tirano, Italy

More old houses and a church, also on the hill.

Tirano, Italy

A museum.

Tirano, Italy

We had a bit of a problem getting the ingredients for a lunch that we would eat on the train. Sally and I tried to order a sandwich at one store. However, we couldn’t get waited on, but the man from Venezuela, who could speak Italian, got waited on right away even though we were at the counter ahead of him––I don’t think the counterman wanted to deal with two English–only speaking women. Our next stop was a supermarket, where we had more luck. I got waited on and through sign language told the counterman that I wanted a large roll, then I wanted the roll cut in half, next some ham and then some Swiss cheese on it. He appeared a bit confused as to why anyone would want such a thing made up this way. He cut the Swiss cheese in unbelievably thick slices, but I didn’t ask for mustard on the sandwich as I don’t think they had any there. However, I was able to buy a jar of mustard and added plastic knives, paper plates, napkins, and a Coke to my purchases and I had my lunch––the sandwich was so big I gave half of it to Sally. Our whole tour group ate picnic lunches while viewing the Swiss Alps on the train––really really nice! Photo: A Tirano street.

Tirano, Italy

The train station in the middle. You don’t have to take this tour to get to the Tirano train station. You can take a train from Milan on your own to get here.

Bernina Express

Our train, which we would take through the Swiss Alps. I have put our train journey on a slide show on this site: Go to Slide Shows, Western Europe, Switzerland, “To St. Moritz, Bernina Express.”  I really loved the whole trip––it was so beautiful going through the Alps. The train made enough stops that, if you wanted to if you were doing this on your own, you could get off the train and then hike to the next station. Many people of all ages were hiking in the Alps. You can also try to imagine how even more beautiful this trip would have been if it was later in the year with more snow on the ground.

St. Moritz, Switzerland

St. Moritz is where the rich, famous, and royalty go skiing. I was really thrilled to be here as it was one place that I never thought I would ever visit. In the village, there were stores––many very expensive designer stores––cafes, hotels, etc. All of it was very well kept. Interestingly, Switzerland is not a member of the European Union; hence, you may have to show your passport when you arrive. It also doesn’t use the euro, rather Swiss francs. The U.S. dollar is worth a bit more than the Swiss franc ($1 U.S. = 1.16 Swiss Francs) but the euro is worth much more (1 euro = 1.67 Swiss Francs), so we found the prices in this cafe very much in our favor as we were using euros. Sally and I had coffee and the most delicious hot fudge sundaes––the hot fudge must have been made from Swiss chocolate––at this cafe in front to the Town Hall.

St. Moritz, Switzerland

In the photo, you can see the funicular that goes up the hill. Some of our tourmates inquired about it and were told it was a 45–minute ride up. They didn’t have time to take it.

St. Moritz, Switzerland

Another view of our cafe.

St. Moritz, Switzerland

A closer–up view of the imposing Town Hall.

St. Moritz, Switzerland

A St. Moritz street.

St. Moritz, Switzerland

An almost hidden church steeple.

St. Moritz, Switzerland

Sally had paid for the coffee and sundaes with euros. She asked the waitress if she could get change in euros and the waitress said yes. However, Sally was given Swiss francs back and either had to spend them here or exchange them at a St. Moritz bank. She decided to spend them and went into a store to do so. She told me just to start walking down the hill to where the bus would pick us up and she would catch up with me. The reason that she paid for the sundaes was because I paid for the taxi to go up the hill. The tour group walked up it––quite steep––and I was afraid with my sore foot that I would have trouble doing so. But this left me not knowing the route back down the hill and, of course, I went the wrong way. I wonder sometimes that if I just went the way that I didn’t think was right that I would actually be going the right way. Anyway, here are some photos I took on my way getting lost. This photo shows that St. Moritz definitely is a very classy place.

St. Moritz, Switzerland

A blending of old and new buildings.

St. Moritz, Switzerland

Close–up of this old building. Three languages are spoken in this part of Switzerland: Italian, German, and Romansch. I think “Konditorei” is German.

St. Moritz, Switzerland

An interesting building.

St. Moritz, Switzerland

An interesting flag in front. The red flag with the cross is the Swiss flag.

St. Moritz, Switzerland

Some interesting Swiss chocolate mice in a store window.

St. Moritz, Switzerland

Several languages on this sign including that of some Asian tourists.

St. Moritz, Switzerland

Another interesting sign.

St. Moritz, Switzerland

I think this is where I took a wrong turn. I did finally figure out my mistake and I was the one who had to catch up with Sally, not vice versa.

St. Moritz, Switzerland

Pretty Swiss house.

St. Moritz, Switzerland

A game of chess near the lake.

St. Moritz, Switzerland

The lake at the bottom of the hill.

St. Moritz, Switzerland

Another view of the lake.

On the Way Back to Milan

At about 4 p.m., we boarded our bus to go back to Milan. Scene along the way.

This photo did not come out good at all but I included it for its interest: I didn’t expect to see a burro on our trip.

On the Way Back to Milan

A view of the Alps.

On the Way Back to Milan

Making our descent––actually a very quick descent, one of switchbacks and steep grades, and fast driving. A bit scary.

On the Way Back to Milan

Interesting house––we were now on flat land.

On the Way Back to Milan

And a castle.

On the Way Back to Milan

We are back in Italy!

On the Way Back to Milan

If we followed the same route back, that would be Lake Como. It got dark soon after. We arrived back in Milan about 7:30 p.m. I walked over to the Duomo from the tour office to take photos of the Duomo at night.

The Duomo at Night

The tour bus let us off near the Castello. I walked from there along Via Dante to the Piazza del Duomo so I could take some night photos. Photo: The Duomo at Night.

Piazza del Duomo

The Piazza del Duomo lit up.

The Galleria

The Galleria at night.

The Galleria

Another view of the Galleria lit up.

Piazza del Duomo

Another of the Piazza del Duomo at night.

Piazza del Duomo

And another. I ate dinner at one of the cafes in the Galleria. It was fun being at the center of life in Milan at night. I took a taxi back to the hotel, arriving about 9 p.m.––a very long fun day.