Awesome Scenery...

 

Cafe at the top of the world...

Google put in an appearance in the morning, but we still couldn't work out, which route to take through the mountains. We skipped breakfast in the hotel and got a coffee and croissant, when we filled up with petrol. The attendant, asked if we should go left or right out of Davos for Italy, sucked his teeth and suggested the "ferry". That was back down the mountain we crawled up the night before. I hate back-tracking, but we had become intrigued by the thought of a 20 kilometre ferry across the Alps. Not an easy job going down the mountain. The brakes soon started to over-heat and get spongy and I had to pull over and let them cool down. On the second occasion I pulled over opposite 'The Ferry ", which turned out to a train for cars, similar to the Channel Tunnel, but wider and ran every half hour. We could skip 2 mountain passes and emerge on the other side. 37 Swiss Francs for a trip of a life-time. 20km and 20 minutes later we were a good half a day further down the road with smiles on our faces. It exited into a charming valley with almost no traffic and Aimile could take her time and enjoy the scenery. The photos show us at what turned out to be the highest point in our trip and coffee at the cafe over-looking Italy - sublime. 

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 

Things always look better on a bright sunny morning. Chris complains when I open the balcony doors to take some photos – it’s definitely sub-zero outside. We’re on the third floor, so have a stunning view of the higher snow-covered slopes. There’s not much snow left here on the slightly lower ground. We don’t have a kettle, so no coffee – no hot water bottle last night either – my feet were freezing. Reluctant to pay for an expensive fast-food breakfast, we check out early and negotiate the tortuous passageways and lift to find Aimile. He’s had a sheltered night, so purrs into action easily. We still don’t really know how to get out of here, but need fuel and hope to get a local perspective on potential routes.

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.