Itinerary?: 6 days Switzerland & 4 days Italy
Feb 28th, 2016, 05:29 AM
#21
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Hi rainbow007,
I agree with PalenQ above that the Bernina Express is one of the greatest (most scenic) rail routes in Europe. It is an incredible journey, taking you from the Alps, over the top of the mountains with glaciers and peaks, and down into a lush, green valley.
And as good as the scenery is from a train window, it is hundreds of times more dramatic and impressive staring at it face-to-face. So, yes, you ought to spend a night in the mountains while enroute. St. Moritz is a decent place (there is one good hotel right at the lake), but even better if you can stay over at a smaller town or village -- Pontresina is a popular stop, or you could try Sils, Silvaplana, Celerina, or others. That way, you'll be able to get onto a mountain trail somewhere and really soak up the views.
If you want to improve your impressions on geography & rail schedules, you can just look them up online. The German rail site will show you a map of the route -- just click on the connection you want, then at the bottom of its block, you can click on a map. Or -- just use google maps and follow the towns on the train's route across the countryside.
Have fun!
s
I agree with PalenQ above that the Bernina Express is one of the greatest (most scenic) rail routes in Europe. It is an incredible journey, taking you from the Alps, over the top of the mountains with glaciers and peaks, and down into a lush, green valley.
And as good as the scenery is from a train window, it is hundreds of times more dramatic and impressive staring at it face-to-face. So, yes, you ought to spend a night in the mountains while enroute. St. Moritz is a decent place (there is one good hotel right at the lake), but even better if you can stay over at a smaller town or village -- Pontresina is a popular stop, or you could try Sils, Silvaplana, Celerina, or others. That way, you'll be able to get onto a mountain trail somewhere and really soak up the views.
If you want to improve your impressions on geography & rail schedules, you can just look them up online. The German rail site will show you a map of the route -- just click on the connection you want, then at the bottom of its block, you can click on a map. Or -- just use google maps and follow the towns on the train's route across the countryside.
Have fun!
s
Feb 28th, 2016, 07:07 AM
#22
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"Anything in Italy takes years to become final "
The example you cite would have taken years anywhere. The Venetian Mose project was and is one of the most complicated and controversial engineering projects every undertaken in Europe. People are now wondering if the Thames Barrier, which took 8 years to build and is not as complicated, actually was the right design and needs improvement, the renovations of CDG collapssed, Germnay and America are now lagging behind in modern infrastructure improvement, with American having written off an entire city to climate change (and it won't be the last I bet) - not to mention a great many projects in Italy come in on time, and are done very beautifully, despite Italy's economic struggles under austerity.
One gets sick and tired of thoughtless out of date cliches about supposedly backward Italy -- a country almost any sane person wants to move to, especially if they live anywhere near Detroit or Flint. People point fingers as if there were some country where everything is so obviously much better. Italy has tremendous problems, but what country doesn't -- and despite its problems, it continues to lead the world in many important ways, including grappling with climate change and issues of peace.
The example you cite would have taken years anywhere. The Venetian Mose project was and is one of the most complicated and controversial engineering projects every undertaken in Europe. People are now wondering if the Thames Barrier, which took 8 years to build and is not as complicated, actually was the right design and needs improvement, the renovations of CDG collapssed, Germnay and America are now lagging behind in modern infrastructure improvement, with American having written off an entire city to climate change (and it won't be the last I bet) - not to mention a great many projects in Italy come in on time, and are done very beautifully, despite Italy's economic struggles under austerity.
One gets sick and tired of thoughtless out of date cliches about supposedly backward Italy -- a country almost any sane person wants to move to, especially if they live anywhere near Detroit or Flint. People point fingers as if there were some country where everything is so obviously much better. Italy has tremendous problems, but what country doesn't -- and despite its problems, it continues to lead the world in many important ways, including grappling with climate change and issues of peace.
Feb 28th, 2016, 08:39 AM
#23
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I also enjoyed the Bernina Express, but would not try to include it in the time you have, instead waiting until you have time to enjoy that gorgeous part of Switzerland. neckervd has given you suggestions for scenic routes from Lucerne to Lugano. Just my opinion!
Feb 29th, 2016, 12:13 PM
#24
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sandralist - I love the Let's Go guidebook's take on some Italian church's facade"
"The scaffolding has been there so long it is now considered to be a part of the facade"
And as a frequent traveler to Italy - maybe 30 visits all told - I do see scaffolding on Italian facades that does seem to be a part of the facade - trees and weeds growing out of them.
and that freeway to nowhere in Sicily - just ends high up in the air- never having been used I believe.
That said this is a part of Italy that I like - not so gussied up like northern Europe or spic-and-span as say Germany or Austria or especially Switzerland - cross the Swiss-Italian border and things suddenly appear less kept up and older looking - and I rather like that.
Yes the Cinque Terre thing was a cheap shot but I think there is some truth to Dolce Vita permeating the Italian culture - don't do today what you can put off until tomorrow and this I rather like. Another stereotype I know that probably ain't true but what many think.
The fierce opposition to Starbucks coming to sully Italian cities kind of says the same thing - we don't like changes very much (except in our Government!).
Cheers Sandra!
"The scaffolding has been there so long it is now considered to be a part of the facade"
And as a frequent traveler to Italy - maybe 30 visits all told - I do see scaffolding on Italian facades that does seem to be a part of the facade - trees and weeds growing out of them.
and that freeway to nowhere in Sicily - just ends high up in the air- never having been used I believe.
That said this is a part of Italy that I like - not so gussied up like northern Europe or spic-and-span as say Germany or Austria or especially Switzerland - cross the Swiss-Italian border and things suddenly appear less kept up and older looking - and I rather like that.
Yes the Cinque Terre thing was a cheap shot but I think there is some truth to Dolce Vita permeating the Italian culture - don't do today what you can put off until tomorrow and this I rather like. Another stereotype I know that probably ain't true but what many think.
The fierce opposition to Starbucks coming to sully Italian cities kind of says the same thing - we don't like changes very much (except in our Government!).
Cheers Sandra!
Mar 5th, 2016, 01:24 PM
#25
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Thanks again, everyone, for all of your advice. I've been studying up on Cinque Terre things to do and also on the train routes suggested in Switzerland. We haven't decided on all the details but feel confident with all of your input that this will be a great trip!
