Friday, Sep 4: Three Trains to St. Moritz and the Alps



Today we're off for the Alps taking three different trains along the way:  Luzern to Thalwil, Thalwil to Chur and Chur to St. Moritz.  Our tightest connection of six minutes is in Thalwil and we make it with two minutes to spare in spite of being initially flummoxed being unable to find our track number ... the track number (that I had misread) didn't exist in Thalwil.  But it was pretty easy-peasy.  The train continued to be non-busy allowing the two of us to spread out over four to six seats.

As the train left Chur and climbed higher, we passed through a Unesco world heritage site and through the second highest tunnel in Europe.  The views kept getting better and better.
Beverly, looking slightly annoyed, on the portion of the Rheatian Railway used for the Bernina Express.
We climb higher and higher and the snow keeps getting closer.
We cross the famous Landwasser viaduct built between 1901 and 1902 and passing directly into the Landwasser tunnel.  This is not a stock photo!
After arriving, we stroll the streets of St. Moritz, clearly a high rollers town (what are we doing here??) with shops of every high end clothing line, e.g., Michael Kors, Gucci, Louis Vuitton.  You can't just walk into many of the shops. You have to be "buzzed in".  We chose not to try.
Bill holds up the aluminum "snowflake" sculpture commemorating the hosting of the winter Olympics.
We check into the Schweizherhof Hotel 
and love the view from our room across Lake St. Moritz.
After stopping for coffee and dessert in an outdoor cafe,
and as is our sometimes custom, we opt for eating in our room tonight with pretzels, popcorn, fruit, chocolate and wine.  I have found my favorite chocolatier: Laderach.

Tomorrow: exploring St. Moritz and environs.  Although it was sunny and in the 60s today, the forecast for tomorrow is cold and rain with some snow tomorrow night.  Here's hoping ...


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