Awesome Scenery...
Cafe at the top of the world...
Google was happy now and got a good signal and a route it liked, that took us through an incredible fruit growing region, where all the land including most of the hillsides were covered in row upon row of trellised fruit trees. These eventually gave way to vines and signs declaring the region Prosecco. Jacky started to get excited at the thought of all those bubbles and suggested we stop the night to investigate. Booking.com threw up an attractive looking hotel in the centre of a village. We were greeted by a huge fat ginger tom as we walked in the door. The owners were just as friendly and we settled into a comfortable room and a pleasant family run hotel and a selection of prosecco with dinner. Jacky thought she died and went to heaven and life just got better when in the morning we were surrounded by the village market.
Chris
Google
maps has recovered slightly, so guides us round the one-way system to a shabby
part of town. We fill up but there’s no coffee. Everything is firmly closed.
But a bit further on there’s coffee, buns and a mini-market, together with a
friendly guy who explains our possibilities for onward travel.
Things
fall into place when we are told that the elusive tunnel is for trains – but
Aimile can be transported with us inside. It’s still a mystery why google
thinks it’s a ferry!
The Vereina Tunnel turns out to be famous. Completed in 1999 it transports around 450,000 vehicles each year. At twenty kilometres it is the longest tunnel in the Swiss railway network and the world’s longest one metre gauge railway tunnel. It’s single track but has passing places. The tall drive-in carriages can take small trucks and cars and are fairly open. Not too many health and safety features here – but it’s fine if you stay inside your vehicle.
It's a bit shorter than the Channel Tunnel but only a fraction of the price.
The high peaks are exhilarating and awe-inspiring, the air is fresh, the scenery is pretty and coffee in an hotel at the top of the pass is one of the highlights of the trip.
Italy here we come…
Jacky
Back on track - in the Vereina Tunnel - Klosters, Switzerland.
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