A long day today but with a good forecast it should be a stunning day. We are away from the hotel at 08:00 and taking the road past the chairlift down to the Swiss border. This is a lovely road with twelve hairpin bends to the bottom. We stop at the border and a policeman appears shaking his head and finger at us. We are not sure why but presume it must be for driving down the road we has just come from. There are signs saying that no vehicles over 12m are allowed on this road. We are 12m so should be ok but with most modern coaches being longer he probably thought we were longer than 12m. Anyway he checks our tax document and waves us on.
Brian drives through to Pontresina where the group are catching the Bernina Express train to Tirano in Italy. We arrive an hour early allowing time for a coffee and leg stretch before the journey. Brian is going on the train and I will drive the coach to Tirano.
The train arrives and I wave goodbye as the train leaves two minutes late!
The drive through to Pontresina is over the Bernina Pass and with a clear blue sky is an absolute pleasure to drive. I love driving in the mountains and with my music on and the passengers off it is great!!
Parking in Pontresina is a bit tight due to building works but I manage to park near to a Kardan coach which is owned by a friend of mine from the Isle of Wight, Bob. I wonder if he is driving?
From the coach park you walk under the railway lines to the square where the Bernina Express comes into. I am waiting in the shade for our train when I see Bob and Lynn and wander over to have a chat. We only met last year on the Bulbfields Cruise but it feels as if I have known him a lot longer as I feel very comfortable in his company. We are soon saying our goodbyes and I go to meet Brian and the girls in a nearby restaurant where most of the coach are sitting.
We would all like to order a pizza but the waitress, after checking with the kitchen, says it will take a least an hour as they are very busy and make the pizza's fresh to order. "It is because all your passengers have ordered pizza!" she explains. My lasagne was a very enjoyable substitute though.
The return journey is back over the Bernina Pass and is just as spectacular this way although I think most off the group have a siesta and do not see too much! It is certainly quiet on the coach.
We have a short stop at the top of the pass before continuing back to Nauders.
At the border we drive straight through and as I turn to drive up the windy road Brian says the two policemen on duty have come out and are looking at the disappearing back of the coach!
Dinner is not the usual five courses tonight but a buffet where I eat too much of the delicious spread glad that I didn't have a pizza at lunchtime!
Brian drives through to Pontresina where the group are catching the Bernina Express train to Tirano in Italy. We arrive an hour early allowing time for a coffee and leg stretch before the journey. Brian is going on the train and I will drive the coach to Tirano.
The train arrives and I wave goodbye as the train leaves two minutes late!
The drive through to Pontresina is over the Bernina Pass and with a clear blue sky is an absolute pleasure to drive. I love driving in the mountains and with my music on and the passengers off it is great!!
Parking in Pontresina is a bit tight due to building works but I manage to park near to a Kardan coach which is owned by a friend of mine from the Isle of Wight, Bob. I wonder if he is driving?
From the coach park you walk under the railway lines to the square where the Bernina Express comes into. I am waiting in the shade for our train when I see Bob and Lynn and wander over to have a chat. We only met last year on the Bulbfields Cruise but it feels as if I have known him a lot longer as I feel very comfortable in his company. We are soon saying our goodbyes and I go to meet Brian and the girls in a nearby restaurant where most of the coach are sitting.
We would all like to order a pizza but the waitress, after checking with the kitchen, says it will take a least an hour as they are very busy and make the pizza's fresh to order. "It is because all your passengers have ordered pizza!" she explains. My lasagne was a very enjoyable substitute though.
The return journey is back over the Bernina Pass and is just as spectacular this way although I think most off the group have a siesta and do not see too much! It is certainly quiet on the coach.
We have a short stop at the top of the pass before continuing back to Nauders.
At the border we drive straight through and as I turn to drive up the windy road Brian says the two policemen on duty have come out and are looking at the disappearing back of the coach!
Dinner is not the usual five courses tonight but a buffet where I eat too much of the delicious spread glad that I didn't have a pizza at lunchtime!
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