Winter Wonderland Tuesday 08 March

A long day today but, for most, the highlight of the week as we drive into Switzerland to board the Bernina Express to Italy and back.
We are away from the hotel at 07:45 and I anticipate the journey to take 2½ hours. Our train is due to depart at 11:04 so we have plenty of time for any possible delays.
It is a beautiful sunny day once again, the one day we really want clear weather.
The journey only takes two hours as we arrive in Pontresina at 09:45. I go into the ticket office to pay for our tickets and rather nervously put my debit card in the machine. I am nervous as this is the only card I can use and although there is ample money available I am concerned the card won’t work and it is too early to call the bank in England if there is a problem.
The machine takes ages to process my card before rejecting it! The very nice young man then calls his older assistant over and they process my card by hand which thankfully works. Phew! The cost is nearly £1200 and I didn’t have that much cash.
We are all going including Brian and myself but first there is time for a coffee in a nearby cafe.
Brian and I walk in to find most of the passengers sitting there and on one big table there are Colin, Pat, Jen, Bob, Wendy and Brenda. Pat calls me over to say that she has the money to pay for our drinks courtesy of Gill.
Gill sadly passed away recently and has left some money for us to have a drink on her. What a lovely thought from a lovely lady who will never be forgotten and who has a special place in many hearts. Cheers Gill!!
Our train is due to leave at 11:04 but actually leaves a minute late! A Swiss train late, can’t be!
I have paid extra to have a panoramic carriage and is it worth it. The first hour of this two hour journey is through the snow and mountains before gradually descending to Tirano in Italy.
This first hour is one of the most beautiful journeys I have ever been on. The sky is a stunning deep blue in colour without a cloud in sight while the mountains are covered in brilliant deep snow that glistens in the sun.
It is very difficult to describe the beauty we are witnessing but at least I have my phone camera to capture the stunning scenery.Three pictures into the journey my battery runs out! Bum! Am not impressed. I will just have to sit back and enjoy the ride, which I do.
At 13:12 we arrive in Italy and the small town of Tirano where we have about an hour and a half before the return journey. It is warm and sunny without any snow in sight!
There is a pizza restaurant next to the railway station that we tell the passengers about and the majority of the group end up in there with big pizza’s in front of them. Brian and I also partake in a pizza lunch which we both enjoy.
As we go out to pay the lady in charge shakes her head when I offer her some money and disappears only to return with a couple of bottles of red! That’ll do for me.
Our return journey departs at 14:33 and all of the passengers are back on board early. I think we have scared them by saying if they are late the train won’t wait and it is a long way back to Landeck!
The journey back is again very pretty but not quite as stunning as the journey here mainly due to the sun being lower and hiding behind the mountains at some points and everyone being a little sleepy.
We are back in Pontresina at 16:33 and away by 17:00, arriving back in Landeck at 19:00.
We have a later dinner tonight with music during and after.
I have a little dance to the birdy song (must be the dodgy wine!) before calling it a night. I wish I had stayed up a bit longer as Anna took to the microphone and sang later in the evening.