We got another early start this morning and caught a train from Milan across the border into Switzerland. From there, we boarded a bus that promptly took us back into Italy to loop around Lake Como so that we could catch another train into Switzerland. Sounds efficient, right? But that’s what happens when you travel around mountains and lakes.

We had a layover in Tirano between our bus ride and our last train, which gave us just enough time to grab lunch in a cafe nestled in the valley between mountains. I (Becky) got to try a local Italian wine with some saffron risotto, which made me a happy camper. We capped off the meal with some gelato and headed back to the station just in time to board our train.

Our train tickets were for a special panorama train that has extra large windows to give a better view of the mountains. Sometimes travel experiences don’t quite measure up to expectations, but this was not the case today. We were able to watch the front of our train going up the spiral viaduct into the mountains and admire glaciers and glacial lakes and streams with beautiful turquoise silty water as we wove through the mountains.

We made it to Pontresina in the late afternoon and Chuck made a quick trip to St Moritz to get our souvenir train passports stamped while I rested a bit before taking the funicular up to Muottas Muragl for dinner in a swanky hotel restaurant with a panorama view. It was rainy and foggy by this point, so we didn’t get much of the view but the food (and local wine) was excellent. We ate a nice leisurely meal, complete with cheese plate, and hopped on the funicular to head back to our hotel for the night.

Today’s Highlights

• Lake views, picturesque villages, and sprawling vineyards climbing up the hillsides on the bus ride from Lugano to Tirano
• A glass of valtellina rosso and creamy saffron risotto
• Breathtaking views from a panoramic train car
• The steepest/longest funicular either of us have ever ridden, probably
• A nice three course meal

Tomorrow’s Proposed Adventures

• Exploring Samedan
• The Glacier Express to Zermatt