.jpg) Daffodils on the Hill
Daffodils blooming wild on the hillside overlooking Falmouth Harbour are a sure sign that spring has taken hold in Cornwall. We all know that it is England’s notoriously rainy weather – especially in spring – that keeps the grass so green and the flowers blooming. Nowhere is this truer than in the southwestern regions of the country, where the climate is classed as “oceanic” or “maritime” under the Köppen classification system. Winter is not too cold, summer is not too hot – and rain can be expected all year round.
So, imagine our surprise, when we docked in Falmouth, Cornwall, this April, and were greeted with a gloriously sunny day.
My husband and I were on a small ocean-going boat that was hugging the outside coast of Europe from Barcelona in Spain to Bergen in Norway (Viking: Trade Routes of the Middle Ages). We had been unusually lucky with the weather on all our port stops, and this day was no exception.
To make the most of the amazing conditions, we jumped on a morning bus tour around the central-southern portion of the county, and then walked around the town of Falmouth itself in the afternoon. Of course, taking pictures from buses is always challenging, with the other passengers and curved windows in tinted glass, but I’ve included a few just to round out the picture.
Do come along!
.jpg) St Michael’s Mount
As our tour bus winds through the steep and narrow streets of Marazion, we catch glimpses of St Michael’s Mount: a medieval castle on a small tidal island in Mount’s Bay, Cornwall. .jpg) St Michael’s Mount
When the bus finally lets us out for a walk, the sun is on the wrong side of the island; that is the down side of trips that are not planned with photography in mind.  Sign Posting
Walking and bicycle paths criss-cross the rural countryside … Cornwall Beach
… and families take advantage of the temperate English Channel waters on the rocky beach. Penzance
Cornwall’s most westerly major town – whose name brings to my mind the comic opera by Gilbert and Sullivan – sits across Mount’s Bay. Godrevy Lighthouse
Back in the bus, we drive across the peninsula to the north coast, and follow the Godrevy Heritage Coast … Portreath Lighthouses
… past spectacular cliffs and long, sandy beaches, punctuated with lighthouses and rocky coves, sea walls and headlands. Basset Monument
Carn Brea is like a microcosm of Cornwall: for over 300 years (3700-3400BC), it was the site of a small Neolithic settlement; during the the Iron Age, it was occupied by miners looking for minerals; during the the Middle Ages, a chapel, and later a castle dominated the hillside; and it has a sacred Celtic well nearby and a smugglers’ cave is in the cliffs below.
At the highest point on the hill, a 27 meter (90 ft) Celtic cross was built as a monument to local philanthropist and a mine owner, Francis Basset. Ruins of tin mines still dot the landscape. The ground is still rich with tin deposits, but extraction is too difficult and expensive, so no mines operate today. Falmouth Underpass
After lunch back on the boat, we set off on foot to explore Falmouth. Viking Sky in Port
As a deep, sheltered port, Falmouth is a lifeblood to the region. Known as the “first and last port” for ships crossing the Atlantic to the New World, the docks are important for repairs and refuelling. They also house the Pendennis Shipyards, one of the world’s leading builders and re-fitters of luxury super yachts. The 21st century has seen the rise of European cruise industry, with many boats stopping over en route to Ireland, France, or other English ports. Spring Growth
We continue up the hill overlooking the harbour, with signs of new growth all around us. Cannon Bunker
Of course, defensive signs are also in evidence: this is the very edge of Great Britain, and old cannons watch out to sea. St Anthony’s Head Lighthouse, St Mawes
From the path to Pendennis Castle, we have glimpses over the deep waters known as Carrick Roads to St Mawes on the opposite headland. Daffodils
All manner of spring flowers are at the ground around our feet … Spring Blossoms
… and in the trees above our heads. Pendennis Castle
Built as an artillery stronghold by Henry VIII between 1540 and 1542, this castle’s name is Cornish: ‘pen’ is a headland and ‘dynas’ is a fortification. Pendennis Castle
Today, the castle is managed by English Heritage as a tourist attraction, and when we walked around the perimeter, it was being used as a venue for a wedding. Flag atop the 16th-Century Keep and Gun Platform Coast Guard Station
Downhill from the castle, there is a coast guard unit … Home Guard Tour
… where interactive tours are run by pre-arrangement. Police Call Box
Does it get any more British? The parking lot at Pendennis Point includes a shiny blue police call box – like the TARDIS in Dr Who. Couple on a Bench
Benches line Castle Drive as it winds around the castle hill towards town. The Falmouth Hotel
Opened in 1865, this lovely old building is the oldest hotel in Falmouth. Storage Sheds
As a reward for our long walk, we stopped at an outdoor table in the sun for a Cornish High Tea. I cannot tell a lie: that was truly the best scones and cream I have ever tasted! Sunset over the English Channel
Our boat pulls away from dock and sails east through the English Channel. As we are eating dinner, we watch the sun go down over a perfect day. We were chatting to the couple next to us at dinner and the woman expressed some disappointment: like me, she had read Daphne du Maurier as a girl. So, she expected the Cornwall landscape to be darker, moodier.
I had to laugh. Back in 2012, my husband and I spend a few days in Cornwall and it rained the whole time. The first morning, all the golfers in our hotel were sulking because the fog was so thick, you literally couldn’t see your hand in front of your face, let alone a tee on the green. When we visited Land’s End we could hear the sea crashing, but the fog obscured the paths, the cliff edges and the rocky, boat-shattering rocks below. We stopped at Merry Maidens, where the soft rains and wet grass around the standing stones made it easy to imagine Druids dancing. At the Lost Gardens of Heligen, we huddled under our umbrellas, following the wet pathways all alone, as if it were we who were discovering these strange topiaries. And, at Jamaica Inn, where we stopped for a lunch of Cornish pasties, the wet, stormy skies overhead and the surrounding moors were as dark and moody as you could want.
“It all depends on the weather,” I told her.
It must be one of the few times that having good weather has let someone down.
Until next time, Happy Travels!
Photos: 21April2018
Posted in Great Britain,Landscapes,Travel,United KingdomTags: architecture,Cornwall,England,Europe,flowers,landscape,Photo Blog,travel,Travel Blog,Ursula Wall
Narasirato
They commanded the stage wearing bark cloth and paint and sporting decorations made from shells and pigs’ teeth; they won the audience over with their joyful voices, bamboo pipes, log drums and infectious rhythms. The men of Narasirato – from a remote Solomon’s island – are the ultimate expression of Indigenous World Music. “Music is the universal language of mankind.”
– Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
(Track: Narasirato – Roromera Dub Manasseh Remix)
It doesn’t matter how remote from our experience people’s lives are: when they start to make music, we have an understanding of how they are feeling, and clues as to what they want to express. It is indeed, a form of universal language.
If we are disinclined to take a 19th century poet’s word for it, we can look to a recently published Harvard study: Form and Function in Human Song, which found that listeners could recognise the social function of song snippets, even from small-scale societies that were foreign to them.
Certainly, I had no difficulty connecting with the music I got to enjoy at this year’s Boomerang Festival. Billed as “a New World Indigenous festival for all Australians”, the three-day festival was nested within the five-day Byron Bay Bluesfest. In addition to arts, talks and workshops, this year’s festival featured local Indigenous performers and other musicians from the Asia – Pacific region.
Welcome to Country
Traditional dances performed by young Aboriginal men help us all recognise the roots of the land we are standing on. Sorong Samarai
After visiting Papua New Guinea late last year, I was keen to check out Sorong Samarai, a group of musical activists from across the island of New Guinea. The name comes from the eponymous West Papua protest song that seeks to unite the two halves of the island under a self-determined government. Sorong is a town at the island’s most north-western edge and Samarai is an island off the southernmost tip. Sam Roem in Bird of Paradise Feathers
Sam Roem travelled from West Papua to Australia in a traditional wooden dugout canoe in 2006 to seek asylum. West Papua was incorporated into Indonesia in 1969, and since that time, pro-independance supporters are frequently jailed. Sorong Samarai Rap
Rap has become a powerful – and engaging – voice in Indigenous protest movements all around the world. Sprigga Mek – Sorong Samarai
Native Kanaka hip-hop artist Sprigga Mek from Port Moresby raps in a number of different languages. Sorong Samarai Drums
Bamboo and log drums keep up the pace and rhythm. Sorong Samarai Rap Narasirato
The men in the bamboo orchestra of Narasirato list their interests as: “fishing, farming, feasting and family.” Narasirato on Bamboo Flutes
From a small village in the rainforest on Malaita in the Solomon Islands, the band has performed as far afield as Japan and at Glastonbury, where, true to their name – Narasirato means ‘cry for sunshine’ – they stopped the English rains. Narasirato
They perform songs that praise nature, revere ancestors and reflect on contemporary issues. Yirrmal
Yirrmal Marika, a young Yolngu man from the community of Yirrkala, Arnhem Land in Northern Australia, comes across as a gentle soul. Yirrmal
Using a mix of English and Aboriginal languages, and combining traditional and contemporary musical styles, Yirrmal was originally inspired by his famous musical grandfather, Dr Yunupingu. Horns with The Strides
Jeremy Rose on tenor sax and Nick Garbett on trumpet warm up the room in preparation for the rest of their reggae band. The Strides
No strangers to the “festival” scene, the Sydney-based nine-piece ensemble “The Strides” is truly a multi-cultural organisation. Ras Roni and The Strides
Front-man, reggae master Ras Roni, comes to Sydney from Barbados via London. Eddie “Blacker” Conteh and The Strides
Ragga man Eddie “Blacker C” Conteh is originally from Sierra Leon. Ltl Gzeus and The Strides
Emcee Ltl Gzeus has Fijian/Tongan/Chinese roots. Ras Roni with The Strides
Clearly music keeps you young: look at that twinkle! Benny Walker
Sporting a tattoo honouring iconic Indigenous Australian singer songwriter Archie Roach, Benny Walker, a young Yorta Yorta man from Echuca, charmed the audience with his songs of sunshine. Benny Walker Sorong Samarai
On the final afternoon of the 2018 Boomerang Festival, Sorong Samarai took to the outdoor dance space … Sorong Samarai
… with their messages of political resistance.
Strong messages –
delivered with passion and enthusiasm, and made more palatable by the accompaniment of great music.
Until next time!
Pictures: 30March-1April2018
Posted in Australia,environmental portrait,MusicTags: Australia,environmental portrait,environmental portraits,indigenous,music,musicians,people,performance,Photo Blog,portrait,Travel Blog,Ursula Wall
Sadhus in Rishikesh
Sādhu – or “Good Men” – are emblematic of India. While they can be seen everywhere, they congregate in holy cities like Rishikesh. Rishikesh!
For me, that is a name that conjures up the sound of sitars, images of pastel-coloured Hindu Gods, and memories of songs from the Beatles’ post-hallucinogenic phase.
Can you believe it? It was 50 years ago, this February-past, that the Beatles followed their guru – their teacher – Maharishi Mahesh Yogi to his ashram in Rishikesh. With an entourage that included wives, girlfriends and selected reporters, the Fab Four joined students from all around the world – including singer-songwriter Donovan and actress Mia Farrow in an advanced course in the Maharishi’s techniques of Transcendental Meditation.
For the Beatles, the visit to Rishikesh marked their break from hallucinogenic drugs in favour of Indian spirituality and meditation practice. It was a period of great productivity for the band, but was also the beginning of the end – as each member of the group spent time honing his own individual artistic vision.
My visit to this north-Indian city in the Himalayan foothills beside the Ganges River was much more prosaic: I was with photographer Karl Grobl, local guide DV Singh, and a small group of photography-enthusiasts. We had a few afternoon-hours to walk around Swarg Ashram: the traffic-free, alcohol-free and meat-free enclave of temples and ashrams across the famous iron suspension bridges of Ram Jhula and Laxman Jhula from Rishikesh town-proper.
True to my expectations, the air was full of heat and dust, the smell of incense and cattle dung, and the sounds of chanting and sitar music. The streets were lined with shops and shrines and crowded with monkeys, beggars, and mystics.
Come for a walk with me in Rishikesh!
Shiva on the Road
As we leave Haridwar for the short drive upstream along the Ganges to Rishikesh, a giant statue of the Lord Shiva watches over us. Devotee in the Street
It is not uncommon to find Hindu devotees walking around the streets painted to represent one of the many Gods in their extensive pantheon. Dressed as a Hindu God
The colour and the facial hair made me think this might be Hanuman, but other features don’t match so I really don’t know. Either way, he was happy to be photographed! Didgeridoos
I was surprised to see didgeridoos on sale at a local music store. The Bookstore
This bookshop was cram packed, with many offerings in English and other languages for visitors. Every Nook and Cranny
Wherever you look, statues, paintings, or other depictions of deities are nestled into every space. Sādhu
Sadhus are nomadic religious ascetics who have taken vows of chastity and poverty. The ash used in their face paint is sometimes from sacred fires, and is symbolic of their “death” from a worldly life. Laxman Jhula
The Laxman (Lakshman) Jhula, about 5 kilometres upstream from Rishikesh, is one of two almost-indistinguishable iron suspension bridges across the Ganges to Swarg Ashram where many of Rishikesh’s yoga and meditation centres are located. Trayambakeshwar from Laxman Jhula
The views from the bridge are wonderful. Trayambakeshwar Temple to the left, is a magnificent 13-story building dedicated to Lord Shiva. An Indian Couple
Visitors make sure they have their pictures taken as they cross the iconic landmark. Woman on Laxman Jhula
Many are happy for me to take their pictures as well. Women on Laxman Jhula Lord Shiva in the Fountain
According to stories, Shiva the Destroyer (who is one of the Hindu trinity) used to wander as a naked sage, which was somewhat distracting to the wives of several forest-dwelling rishis (hermits). The tiger skin he is often seen with is both a symbol of his animal power (and power over animals) and a means of reducing his distracting magnetism. Old Man in the Street Window of Icons
All manner of religious iconography can be found in the shop windows. Selling Papadum
You are never far from food! The Papadum Seller
This young woman was so beautiful and had such a lovely smile; I couldn’t help but wonder what her life was like – and what it would have been like if she had been born somewhere else. Baby Macaque
Small groups of macaques were on the lookout for opportunistic snacks. Sadhus and Beggers
Sadhus and beggars find shady spots to sit or squat with their bowls or hands out. Beggars Brahmā in a Niche The Chotiwala
For me, one of the most surprising characters in Swarg Ashram was the Chotiwala. Choti is Hindi for a tuft of hair kept at the back of the head that is never cut for religious reasons, so a ‘Chotiwala’ is a ‘Braided Man’. In heavy makeup, the Chotiwala sits in front of the restaurant of the same name, greeting people and ringing the bell over his head. Chotiwala
Actually, there are two Chotiwala and two Chotiwala Restaurants; they are next door to each other in this small, dark alley in Swarg Ashram. When the original owner died in 1990 and left the business to two sons, they could not get along. So, they split the property down the middle and both operated as if they were the only one. This dispute – and the two painted men sitting on stools smiling and ringing their bells within feet of each other – continues to this day.
So much for the peace and goodwill to be found in a community of gurus, yogis, and meditators! Home of the Gods Ram Jhula Bridge
We cross back over the Ganges via the newer suspension bridge – along with pedestrians of all kinds and the odd motorcycle. Cobras and the Rest
Religious figurines, pendants and various trinkets are laid out to tempt us at the other side. ॐ – Om
The sacred syllable ॐ – Om – is everywhere around us; sometimes called the “cosmic sound”, it is a spiritual icon in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. Rafting on the Ganges
Giving rise to concerns about environmental protection, more tourists are coming to Rishikesh for trekking and rafting. Because the rafting camps are temporary and poorly regulated, they do not have adequate sewage and sanitation infrastructure, causing pollution. And, because the clientele are not there for yoga or meditation, they drink, take drugs, and disturb the tranquility of the forest and the spirituality of the river. Water Sport on the Ganges
I was amazed when I saw people swimming; these waters originate higher up, in the hills, mountains and glaciers of the Himalaya. How I would have loved to escape into one of the many yoga ashrams for a long course of study!
I came away from Rishikesh with mere baubles of bright impressions. A full appreciation of this holy centre of yoga- and meditation-study would take much more time.
Maybe one day!
Until then – ॐ – Om!
Photos: 19November2013
Posted in Architecture,environmental portrait,IndiaTags: animals,architecture,environmental portrait,environmental portraits,hindu,hinduism,India,travel,Travel Blog,Ursula Wall
Evening on Ballet Bay
As we worked our way up British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast, we stopped in for a peaceful overnight anchorage in Ballet Bay, on the north side of Nelson Island. “Cruising has two pleasures. One is to go out in wider waters from a sheltered place. The other is to go into a sheltered place from wider waters.”
– Howard Bloomfield
I’m not sure which I enjoy more: whipping across windy waters with our 38-foot Graystone on a comfortable low-heel, or being safely anchored or tied-up in one of the glorious spots available to us either side of British Columbia’s Strait of Georgia.
Being somewhat unskilled sailors, my husband and I like to err on the side of caution. When heading into new (for us) waters, we try to check the charts, the cruising guides, and our sailing mentors. We also err on the side of laziness: if our sailing mentors suggest we follow in their wakes, we jump at the chance of not having to do all the thinking ourselves!
And so it was, in beautiful late-June weather, we set out behind our friends’ 32-foot Catalina, Alaunia, to visit harbours and bays new to us, but familiar to them, on the northern end of the Sunshine Coast of southwestern British Columbia.
It was our third morning on the water: after crossing the Strait from our home-berth of Nanaimo, and overnighting in Hospital Bay, Pender Harbour and in Ballet Bay on Nelson Island (see: Strait Sailing Part 1), we had our headings set for Cortes Island at the upper limits of the Strait of Georgia. Even when the winds didn’t blow or when the rains fell, the coastal and island beauty we passed was breathtaking.
Join us for a motor-sail north into BC waters:
Alaunia leaving Ballet Bay
Early in the morning, we follow Alaunia as she motors gently out of Ballet Bay, … Boat on Ballet Bay
… past anchored cruisers and sleeping houses, … Alaunia
… and into Malaspina Strait. Sliammon Lands – Lund
We stopped into Lund, a small hamlet towards the northern-most end of BC’s Sunshine Coast Highway, for lunch and supplies. The traditional home of the Coast Salish people, this area has been inhabited for thousands of years. Lund Hotel
We loved the charming village so much that we stopped in again on our way back home by sailboat, and once more, when we were making our trip back to the mainland by land (i.e.: by highway and BC Ferries). Lund Watermill
The settlement was named for the city of Lund in Sweden by the Thulin brothers, who settled here from Sweden in 1889. Lund Harbour
Today, this unincorporated village provides safe harbour to small crafts, and is home to many shops and services catering to tourists and outdoor adventurers. Stone Steps at Nancy’s Bakery
Nancy’s Bakery is a favourite for locals and tourists alike; we enjoyed our freshly-baked lunch in the sun before continuing north. Into Desolation Sound
As we turn northeast towards Desolation Sound, the weather closes in. The bleak, overcast weather that greeted Captain Vancouver when he first explored this area in 1792 led to him giving it its name:
“Our residence here was truly forelorn; an awful silence pervaded the gloomy forests, whilst animated nature seemed to have deserted the neighbouring country, whose soil afforded only a few small onions, some samphire and here and there bushes bearing a scanty crop of indifferent berries. Nor was the sea more favourable to our wants, the steep rocky shores prevented the use of the seine, and not a fish at the bottom could be tempted to take the hook.”
– Captain George Vancouver Rain on the Strait
Fortunately for us, there is diesel in the tank, and our wet-weather gear is handy: inclement weather will not dull our enjoyment of a day on the water! “There is no bad weather, only inappropriate clothing.”
― Ranulph Fiennes Mountains all Around
(Three days later, as we are returning south, the Sound shows us how stunningly beautiful it can be … Islets in the Strait of Georgia
… under blue skies in good weather.) In Alaunia’s Wake
On our trip north, however, we are still under motor as we turn right into Desolation Sound … Boat on Desolation Sound
… and motor past the other leisure boats and towards Squirrel Cove. Seasonal Prawns
Once we are safely anchored in Squirrel Cove, we pull out the fresh prawns we bought straight off a fishing boat in Lund. They make a tasty addition to a simple dinner! Dinghy on Squirrel Cove
In the morning, we – like other visitors – have time to get the dinghies out. “Nexus”
We sneak past boats at anchor … Stream into Squirrel Cove
… to explore the foreshore of the bay … Mossy Rocks
… where cool waters tumble over the mossy rocks. Starfish on the Moss
Starfish are attached all over the shallow bottom, … Waters on Squirrel Cove
… clinging to the rocks in the fast-moving waters. Stream into Squirrel Cove Motor Cruisers on Squirrel Cove
Somebody always has a bigger boat! Squirrel Cove
Cortes Island is all First Nation territory; the little community of Squirrel Cove includes a trading post and a Christian church. We watch Squirrel Cove slip into the background as we head across the waters into the Desolation Sound Marine Provincial Park.
More about that some other time –
Until then,
Safe Sailing!
Pictures: 24-25June2015 and 03-04July2015
Posted in Canada,Nature,Sailing,TravelTags: boats,British Columbia,Canada,landscape,nature,Photo Blog,sailing,Strait of Georgia,travel,Travel Blog,Ursula Wall,waterscape
Bernina Express Train in Alp Grüm Station
Alp Grüm (2,091 m) is the first station south of the Swiss Alps. The sleek Bernina Express trains stop here briefly after (or before) crossing through the Bernina Pass. Riding the rails is magic!
I love travelling on trains – all trains. There is something special about the rhythmic rattling as you hurtle through a landscape, being both part of the countryside and cocooned from it.
How much more special is the rail experience when you are on a first-class scenic express train, travelling across an engineering marvel, through a UNESCO-World Heritage Listed landscape? The network of privately owned and operated Rhaetian Railway (RhB) lines in the Albula/Bernina area of Switzerland earned a UNESCO listing in 2008 because: “It constitutes an outstanding technical, architectural and environmental ensemble and embodies architectural and civil engineering achievements, in harmony with the landscapes through which [they] pass.”
The Bernina Express is a direct train from Chur in Switzerland, through the Swiss Alps, to Tirano in Italy. From Chur (585 m), the line climbs to an altitude of 2253 metres on the Bernina Pass, before dropping back down to 429 metres at Tirano; this requires countless spiral loops, 55 tunnels and 196 bridges – all build between 1898 and 1910.
My husband and I and our Swiss travelling companions broke our journey in Poschiavo to meet up with family friends. Join us for the first portion of our Bernina Express railway adventure.
Morning Rails
We had to get up early to meet our RegionalExpress service from Pfäffikon to Chur, where we would join the Bernina Express. Inside the Bernina
The rail carriages are modern and spacious. Rising Sun
As we start off south, the sun rises over the mountains near Chur. Church on a Hill
The view from our moving window is impossibly picturesque. The Tail of the Train
The morning light glints off the trees and makes reflections in the train windows as we watch our tail follow us around one of the many limestone viaducts. Almost Abstract – Trees in the Train Tiefencastel Station (884 m)
There are a few small stations on the Albula Railway line from Chur to St. Moritz; we stop in Tiefencastel to pick up a tourist group. The Conductor Almost Abstract – Impossible Bridges
We watch the front of of our train head towards the tunnel on the mountain opposite us. The natural dolomite lime pillars of the Landwasser Viaduct in Graubünden stretch across 142 meters, 65 metres above the rugged Landwasser Valley below. This impressive structure was built between 1901 and 1902, and constructed so well that the first renovations were not performed until 2009. “How Green is my Village?”
We come out of the tunnel and drop down to Bergün, a charming town set in impossibly green mountain meadows. This is the town that made international headlines in 2017 when it voted to ban tourist photography because it is “Too beautiful!”, and people seeing the pictures on social media would be jealous and unhappy. Not everyone appreciated the joke, but it certainly generated lots of free publicity! Bernina Mountain Goat
I am a Capricorn: I couldn’t resist buying myself an official Bernina mountain goat. Scene from the Train
Meanwhile, the beautiful alpine meadows continue to roll past our windows. In the Shadow of the Mountains
It is hard to imagine a more sublime location for ordinary housing. Inn River Valley
The mountain village of Pontresina, flanked by the Bernina Massif, is popular for hiking, biking, glacier walks and spa retreats. It is a stone’s throw from the luxury resort town of St. Moritz. Almost Abstract – “Selfie” Inside the Bernina Bernina Pass
Like the road beside us, we climb up again, … Train in the Bernina Pass
… across the Bernina Pass and towards Ospizio Bernina (2,253 m), the highest station on our route. Lej Pitschen (“Small Lake”) – Bernina Pass Walking Paths
Well-marked trails lead from Ospizio Bernina station past the tiny Lej Nair, … Lago Bianco
… along Lago Bianco (“White Lake”), and on to Alp Grüm. You can just see the dam at the other end of the glacial waters; water on this side flows back to the Inn River and empties into the Black Sea, while the water on the other side flows toward the Adriatic. Alp Grüm Station
We had a chance to alight from the train at the southern-most end of the Bernina Pass: Alp Grüm Station. This marks the southern border of the Romansh speaking part of the country; we will soon be in Italian-speaking territory. Trains at Alp Grum Station
As high as we are (2,091 m) already, the mountains rise steeply around us. Dreams of Snow-Dusted Alpine Peaks Alpine Meadow
Alp Grüm means “Alpine Garden”, which is a pretty accurate description of our beautiful surrounds. View from Alp Grüm Lago Palü
We have wonderful views over Lake Palü and towards the Vadret da Palü – the Palü Glacier – behind it. Trains in the Trees
Too soon we are back on the train, as it follows countless curves through the tall trees to descend into the Poschiavo Valley. Trains that Pass
We pass trains heading up hill; the Bernina Express trains run a full schedule in summer. Village in a Valley
We drop into the Poschiavo Valley, where lunch and a whole other adventure awaits us. Riding the Bernina Express through the Swiss Alps is an unbeatable experience. Our jaws were still dropped as we got off the train in Poschiavo where we would overnight before picking up the train again the next day for the last portion of the trip.
Watch this space!
Until next time,
Happy Travels!
Pictures: 06August2014
Posted in Landscapes,Switzerland,TravelTags: landscape,nature,Photo Blog,railway,Swiss Alps,Switzerland,train,travel,Travel Blog,UNESCO,Ursula Wall
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Beautiful pics as usual! My personal favourite: St. Anthony’s Head!!
Many thanks, Tony! It was a lovely walk – and looked like nice sailing out there on Carrick Roads. 😀
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