5 Trains to Italy

UWe started in Davos, and our final destination was Bellinzona about 65 miles away...but we took the long-cut and went to Filisur,  Samedan, Pontresina, Tirano and Lugano before we arrived in Bellinzona. We probably did over 200 miles on 5 trains and one post bus! We walked 3 miles along the way too. It was a good day.

We passed some beautiful meadows as we went thru the Bernina Pass in Switzerland. Then we saw the ski areas and the glaciers! What a place!

Skiing is big in this part of the Alps.

The "big" glacier dominates the valley for miles. 

We were on our way to Tirano in Italy, which meant switching to Euros from Swiss Francs. Almost as soon as we "set foot" in Italy, the terrain changed as did the buildings. The really tidy "manicured" look of Switzerland was replaced with a more "laid back" style. There were a few weeds growing along the roadway! (I don't think weeds are allowed in Switzerland.) if it's possible for a tree to look "relaxed" they were relaxed. Italians are different from Swiss!

instead of churches with spires, we saw square bell towers. 

A typical Italian church with a campanile.

Streets are narrow and paved with cobbles, which are horrible for walking on, even if they do last forever. The color palate is different too. 

But you will seldom see a street in Switzerland where the paint on the houses has eroded away. That's just not going to happen.

What you will find in both countries are flowers decorating windows and porches. 

At the end of our stay in Tirano, we boarded a post but to Lake Lugano. We took a long ride around Lakes Como and Lugano looking at villages that line the lakes. 

The post bus, called the Bernina Express dropped us off in Lugano 20 minutes early and we were able to make a quick train connection to Bellinzona. Back in Switzerland, the home of the Swiss Franc, we are now experiencing the Swiss Italian alps. The people speak Italian in Bellinzona...for the last few days we've been in the German speaking part of Switzerland...it's a change. I went to a store to ask for an item. In German speaking Switzerland, I would ask if they spoke English and the response was  YES. When I asked that question, the clerk said no then she asked me if I spoke Italian and I said no, then she said German, and I said no again, so I asked if she spoke Spanish and she said YES...so the rest of the transaction was done in Spanish and hand gestures. It was kind of fun too!