Bernina Express takes adventurers to the sun; trains take travelers to the top of the world

In late spring and into summer, temperatures in the Alps can dip to 15 °C (59 F), and there can still be snow on the mountain tops, as Bruce Keller and Christene "Cookie" Meyers discovered recently during a ride on the famed Bernina Express.

HISTORIC RAIL TRIP OFFERS SPLENDID VIEWS ON BERNINA EXPRESS

The viaduct  outside Tirano offers spectacular Alps viewing.

STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS

PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER

IT'S BEEN OUR dream for 17 years  to take a train trip through the Swiss Alps and transit the terrain of some of the world's highest mountain ranges.

Both of us love mountains and winding trails. We both love trains, too, so the irresistible combination came to us via Bernina Express.

We viewed several villages from the train's panoramic windows.

The famous train connects Chur in Switzerland to Tirano in Italy by crossing the rugged and lush Swiss Engadin Alps. For most of its journey, the train runs along the World Heritage Site known as the Rhaetian Railway.  

Picturesque sights abound, including this cafe, Restaurant Alp Grum in Poschiavo, Switzerland.

WE BOARDED in Tirano,  a picturesque Italian village, the northern Italy counterpart to the little village chosen for filming "The Godfather." People are friendly and family oriented. They love their dogs and keep tidy, small gardens.  It's a lovely place to stroll the winding streets as we did from our  B&B, the delightful Ostello del Castello. (More on that in next week's feature on Tirano.) 

Framed by Lake St. Moritz are Christene "Cookie" Meyers and Bruce Keller, on a unique train trip from Tirano, Italy.

AFTER RESTING a couple days following a hectic time in southern Europe, we were ready to resume our adventures. We walked the mile from the hotel to the train station to await our departure from Tirano. We'd booked our reservations weeks before and found our seats in a comfy car resembling the Vista Dome of my youthful train travel. Glass ceilings in these first class cars offer a panoramic experience. Note in booking that not all the cars have these expansive windows and ceilings.

AS WE traveled, we reveled in the green of the Alps, its rugged terrain, villages and meadows, snow capped peaks, alpine lakes and a remarkable viaduct. While we were on our train, friends took the Bernina Express going the opposite direction, a four-hour, 90-mile journey from icy Switzerland to sunny Italy.  We reversed, starting in Italy and wending our way through 55 tunnels and 196 bridges to St. Moritz.  So while we were digging light jackets out of our backpacks as temperatures dropped, our friends were shedding their sweaters as the weather warmed.

Bruce Keller enjoys a stunning view enroute to St. Moritz.

Right outside our window, skiers readied their gear for an afternoon on the slopes.

The train makes a stop or two along the way for

photos.  We saw skiers and sunbathers in a day.

The train  was built in 1896-1904 and is itself a UNESCO World Heritage site. We appreciated the train's clean, spacious seats. First class is a bit more, but worth it. Everyone was in good spirits and we met delightful people -- Americans, Australians, French, English, German, Swiss, Italians -- all bonded by an appreciation of the spectacular sights we enjoyed together. 

A PLEASANT attendant circulated with a refreshment trolley, offering light

snacks, tea, coffee, wine and souvenirs. It is allowed to bring your own food and drinks, including wine, as several passengers did.

It's a thrill to have experienced this wonderful journey. If you love trains, mountain scenery and adventure, we highly recommend this outing.

For more information: The Chur–Tirano route runs daily between Chur, Switzerland and Tirano, Italy. In summer, the train continues from Tirano to Lugano some days.St. Moritz–Tirano: This shorter route runs between St. Moritz, Switzerland, and Tirano, Italy. The classic Bernina Red Train route offers panoramic carriages and requires advance ticket reservations. We took it from from Tirano to St. Moritz. Tickets begin at about 29 Euros.

www.berninarailway.com

For rail and ticketing elsewhere in Europe: www.eurail.com

Strolling the streets of Tirano, Italy, are Bruce Keller and

Christene "Cookie" Meyers, The charming village was our

base for exploring northern Italy and taking Bernina Express. 

UP NEXT:  We spent a few relaxing days in Tirano, based at the charming Ostello del Castello, a unique family run inn in Tirano, Valtellina, Italy.  Host Andreas and a welcoming staff made us instantly at home and we were surrounded by spectacular views, geraniums in window boxes, and the clanging of cowbells to greet the morning.  We'll visit Tirano and its treasures with tips on combining the train trip with a village visit. Remember to explore, learn and live and catch us weekly for a fresh spin on nature, travel, performance, family and the arts: www.whereiscookie.com