The Scenic Route To Milan

Over the weekend, me and four of my flatmates decided to take a break. It's the middle of the exam period, but taking a break can be just as important as studying! That's my excuse anyway. We decided to go to Milan and take the scenic route: the mountainous Bernina Express route meanders over the Bündner Alps dropping back down into the Italian foothills. 'Picturesque' doesn't even come close.

The Bernina Express route took us into 120 tunnels and over around 50 bridges in the alpine canton of Graubünden.

The route took us through a UNESCO World Heritage Park in the Engadin (South East Switzerland). Three or four hours usually suffice to reach Milan, but taking the slow, scenic route, we spent 9 hours on the winding tracks. The time was made enjoyable, not only due to the magnificent views, but also because the train conductor was extremely friendly, taking it upon himself to sit with us and tell us jokes about the Zürchers and the Americans (with an American friend present) – just great!

The view from the village of St. Moritz.

For lunch, we made a quick pit stop at St. Moritz, the most expensive and most exclusive ski resort of Switzerland. A mountain village where jewellers and banks outnumber ski hire shops and cafés. One of the few places on Earth more expensive than Zurich! So we just had lunch and went swiftly on our way...

The Swiss Italian villages on the South side of the pass.

Crossing the border into Italy, leaving the Alps behind us, we could immediately sense that we were no longer in Switzerland. A €5 train ticket to Milan (on a less than stable train), Mediterranean heat and a slower, yet slightly chaotic approach to life all indicated that!

The cathedral – and crowds – the pope was in Milan on Sunday.

Milan is no pretty city, especially for Italian standards, but it is definitely a city worth visiting. It's not far from Switzerland either, as I mentioned earlier, it is possible to get there in four hours using the more direct train. This was my first time in Italy: the first of many I hope – even just simply for Italian cuisine. It's certainly earnt its reputation. I made the most of the occasion and filled myself like a king at each meal time – not being in Switzerland, I could afford to too!

A typical street in Milan.

A very enjoyable weekend indeed – I now hope to see more of not just Italy, but also the Italian speaking parts of Switzerland. There's something about the relaxed atmosphere which immediately appeals to me. Next stop perhaps Logarno and Locarno?