Wednesday 02 June Bernina Express

The highlight of the tour for many today, the Bernina Express.
We depart Nauders at 08:45 and I want to take the road opposite the town which is a short way to the Swiss border via 11 hairpin bends. My only concern is the 12m limit they have imposed on the road. My bus is 12m but last year a very serious border guard kept shaking his head after we appeared from siad road. I don't want to attract the wrath of the Swiss/Austrian border guards!
The longer way round is very pretty and runs through a steep sided valley way below the road we take up to Nauders.
At the border I ask the guard about the 12m road and he says it is ok in my bus. So there you go, we shall go back that way.
The journey is very pretty through the Engadine Valley to Pontresina, which is next door to the famous resort of St Moritz. We are here in five minutes short of a couple of hours.
We have arrived just behind a Belgian and a German coach which means long queues for the toilets! For such a popular station that attracts many coaches the toilet facilities are very poor. It is never a good sign when the men are queing for a wee! Even the ladies join the mens queue in their desperation!
I sort out our ticket and then make a few drinks on the coach before they all make their way to platform four.
Our train departs at 11:31 and we are all ready and waiting on the platform by 11:20. I think I have frightened them by saying the train will pull in and go at 11:31 so make sure you are on time as it won't wait and I will be gone! I could always pick any latecomers up on the way back but spending five hours here would test ones patience!
The train arrives at 11:30 and all of the passengers find their way to our reserved panoramic carriage before it leaves at 11:35. This must be one of the first Swiss trains to run late! I bet it arrives in Tirano on time.
I rather enviously wave goodbye before returning to the coach for my drive over the Bernina Pass to Tirano where I shall meet the group.
I really enjoy this drive as the pass is a good road, the sun is out, I have my music on and their are no passengers!!
I park up in Tirano and go to wait for the train to arrive at 13:27.
I have a word with a waiter at a nearby restaurant and arrange to tell the group they can eat here if they wish.
The train arrives exactly at 13:27 and I am waiting in the small square by the railway station to explain where to meet the coach and where they can eat.
Most go off on their own but ten of the group go into the restaurant I suggested.
The waiter sits me out the front in a prominent seat so anyone else from the group will see me and come in!
I am fed and watered on the house and am even given a couple of bottles of red for my troubles!
We depart Tirano at 15:00 for the drive back over the Bernina Pass to Pontresina and then through the Engadine Valley to Nauders.
We have a short stop at the top of the pass where only two want to get off and have a drink before we are off again.
It is always a lovely ride back but I think everyone has gone to sleep as it is very quiet on the coach.
On these twisting roads it is usual for cars and motorbikes to take their lives in their hands with some of the overtaking they do but unusual for lorries to do it.
I had a lorry overtake me today going very fast and driving around the bends as if he was in a small car. I'm all for confident driving but this was just plain dangerous and I can't quite beleive how fast he was actually driving. Prat.
I drive up the 11 hairpins and to Nauders where we experience our first rain of the day!
I always like a beer in the bar before dinner and tonight is no exception although it is not as enjoyable because there are a lot of other guests at the bar smoking. When you are used to no smoking in bars it seems to magnify the smoke and smell when you are amongst smokers. Beer still tastes good though!