Our month in Switzerland
Jul 4th, 2019, 01:34 AM
#121
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LOVE the photos - both of "my" Sils and Vicosoprano. Thank goodness when we drive down the Bregaglia the road by-passes those villages. And I am also happy to have the bus driver in charge when we go to Soglio. Aaaah! Gerstensuppe at Grond! About the best I have ever had. Their pizzoccheri is also superb if that temps you.
Jul 4th, 2019, 08:53 AM
#122
Hambagahle, Grond makes a great gesternsuppe! Not creamy, like the one in Thusis.
Vicky, I hope you get to Switzerland.
Kay, yes, our roads are hardly challenging compared to the Swiss roads.
Day 25: Sils Maria
Today we took the Bernina regional train (not Express) from St Moritz. It’s a short bus ride to St Moritz from Sils Maria, and an easy transfer. Note: Worth considering upgrade to 1st class if you are travelling at a busy time (so full carriages) - most hikers alight at Morteratsch or Alp Grüm, so that starts to empty out, plus it is more popular earlier and later in day ( so our return had completely empty carriages).
Anyway, this is one of the world’s most scenic train journeys. We missed it on our 2017 Switzerland trip, as there had been an accident that damaged the track.
Opted to go as far as Miralago, and return (CHF 33.60 return each).
It’s a 2 hour journey, and absolutely stunning, with mountains and forests, glaciers, the barren landscape of Ospizio Bernina and the greenish tinge of Lago Bianco, Alp Grüm, and the descent into Poschiavo, followed by the turquoise Lake Poschiavo.
Having trouble posting tonight, photos not loading, will try separate posts, I see auto save not functioning...
Vicky, I hope you get to Switzerland.
Kay, yes, our roads are hardly challenging compared to the Swiss roads.
Day 25: Sils Maria
Today we took the Bernina regional train (not Express) from St Moritz. It’s a short bus ride to St Moritz from Sils Maria, and an easy transfer. Note: Worth considering upgrade to 1st class if you are travelling at a busy time (so full carriages) - most hikers alight at Morteratsch or Alp Grüm, so that starts to empty out, plus it is more popular earlier and later in day ( so our return had completely empty carriages).
Anyway, this is one of the world’s most scenic train journeys. We missed it on our 2017 Switzerland trip, as there had been an accident that damaged the track.
Opted to go as far as Miralago, and return (CHF 33.60 return each).
It’s a 2 hour journey, and absolutely stunning, with mountains and forests, glaciers, the barren landscape of Ospizio Bernina and the greenish tinge of Lago Bianco, Alp Grüm, and the descent into Poschiavo, followed by the turquoise Lake Poschiavo.
Having trouble posting tonight, photos not loading, will try separate posts, I see auto save not functioning...
Jul 4th, 2019, 09:01 AM
#123
Jul 4th, 2019, 12:30 PM
#126
Join Date: Jun 2019
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I have to say, this report (and comments) has proved to be enlightening. I haven't been to Switzerland and I never knew it had so much culture and character, I usually just think a quick 3 day trip would be enough to explore the country (my ignorance though lol), but with this I know that going with 3 days is definitely off the table and switzerland just made it into my nearest future. Thanks for sharing your experience so thoroughly, every minute spent reading it was totally worth it. Hopefully after my trip I can share my experience as well and change someone else's view like you did me. GRACIAS!
Jul 4th, 2019, 11:10 PM
#127
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I have to say, this report (and comments) has proved to be enlightening. I haven't been to Switzerland and I never knew it had so much culture and character, I usually just think a quick 3 day trip would be enough to explore the country (my ignorance though lol), but with this I know that going with 3 days is definitely off the table and switzerland just made it into my nearest future. Thanks for sharing your experience so thoroughly, every minute spent reading it was totally worth it. Hopefully after my trip I can share my experience as well and change someone else's view like you did me. GRACIAS!
Jul 5th, 2019, 10:52 AM
#133
Corvatschbahn to Murtel, view over valley and lake
At Murtel cablecar station
At Fuorcla Surlej
At Fuorcla Surlej
The walking trail
The peaks
Fuorcla Surlej
Fuorcla Surlej
The hut on the ridge
Roseg valley
Roseg valley
Jul 5th, 2019, 11:01 AM
#134
Day 26: Sils Maria
Photo uploading has been problematic, so a few above, can’t seem to insert them into text.
Anyway, beautiful sunshine again. 19 C day. Wunderbar!
A 15 minute bus ride to Corvatschbahn (beautiful in itself, along the lake) then a short ride to Murtel station (CHF 21.50 each return with half fare card).
And a fabulous easy walk to Fuorcla Surlej with absolutely stupendous views to peaks, glaciers and down the Roseg Valley. Some snow still on the trail, so a bit slippery, but lots of elderly hikers striding along.
Just so incredible. We missed this last time because of an overnight snowfall and the trail was closed. So happy to experience this today.
Other hikers were continuing on to the Roseg valley or Coaz Hutte. We are not hikers, so a hearty lunch there of soup and bread, before returning the same way. It is about an hour of slowish walking each way.
Photo uploading has been problematic, so a few above, can’t seem to insert them into text.
Anyway, beautiful sunshine again. 19 C day. Wunderbar!
A 15 minute bus ride to Corvatschbahn (beautiful in itself, along the lake) then a short ride to Murtel station (CHF 21.50 each return with half fare card).
And a fabulous easy walk to Fuorcla Surlej with absolutely stupendous views to peaks, glaciers and down the Roseg Valley. Some snow still on the trail, so a bit slippery, but lots of elderly hikers striding along.
Just so incredible. We missed this last time because of an overnight snowfall and the trail was closed. So happy to experience this today.
Other hikers were continuing on to the Roseg valley or Coaz Hutte. We are not hikers, so a hearty lunch there of soup and bread, before returning the same way. It is about an hour of slowish walking each way.
Jul 5th, 2019, 11:07 AM
#135
Jessbrown, I had 18 days in Switzerland for my last trip (2017) and only 5 days on my very first.
There really is is so much to experience here, I just had to make adjustments for this longer trip, as it really is very expensive. So, the half fare card, using apartments and doing our own meals, has helped.
And lots of research! So many people here willing to help.
There really is is so much to experience here, I just had to make adjustments for this longer trip, as it really is very expensive. So, the half fare card, using apartments and doing our own meals, has helped.
And lots of research! So many people here willing to help.
Jul 6th, 2019, 12:04 AM
#137
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Very glad you made it to Fuorcla Surlej this time! Brilliant photos again. That hike to Coaz hut and then down the whole Roseg valley to Pontresina is really long. But wonderful. And the ambience at the hut is so different, truly filled with mountaineering spirit. There are shortcuts to the Roseg valley, though. Bet you could have done the shortest, direct hike - as a reward the famous dessert buffet at Hotel Roseggletscher wating ;-)
Jul 6th, 2019, 09:19 AM
#138
Day 27:
Today we took the path from Sils Baselgia to Maloja, via Grevasalvas. It's pleasantly shaded for the first part, and gently uphill. Lovely views down over the Silsersee, the mountains, and Isola. Then a more steeply uphill section, above the tree line, so stunning, with the massive mountains above.
Honestly, the photos don’t do it justice.
We had some nusstorte in the company of some cows near Grevasalvas, then a wander past this farming hamlet, on to Blaunca, and eventually to the lookout over Maloja.
A steep descent into Maloja, on a fairly uneven, rocky trail, then headed to the Schweizerhaus for our Rösti and beer.
This is described as a 2-3 hour walk. We took 4 hours (I take lots of photos, we chatted awhile to a couple from Australia who have 3 months in Sils Maria and do the strenuous hikes, we sat and ate...)
Took the bus home.
Today we took the path from Sils Baselgia to Maloja, via Grevasalvas. It's pleasantly shaded for the first part, and gently uphill. Lovely views down over the Silsersee, the mountains, and Isola. Then a more steeply uphill section, above the tree line, so stunning, with the massive mountains above.
Honestly, the photos don’t do it justice.
We had some nusstorte in the company of some cows near Grevasalvas, then a wander past this farming hamlet, on to Blaunca, and eventually to the lookout over Maloja.
A steep descent into Maloja, on a fairly uneven, rocky trail, then headed to the Schweizerhaus for our Rösti and beer.
This is described as a 2-3 hour walk. We took 4 hours (I take lots of photos, we chatted awhile to a couple from Australia who have 3 months in Sils Maria and do the strenuous hikes, we sat and ate...)
Took the bus home.
