Switzerland Day 5

Bernina Express day today, but first breakfast and packing before leaving Hotel Rätia and Filisur. I wanted to experience a entire route of the Bernina Express so I chose to take a short train ride to Davos, where the Bernina Express originates. The Bernina Express travels between Chur (or Davos) to Tirano (Italy). I got lucky on this day due to the excellent weather. Apparently on days that have nice weather Rhaetian Railway will add an open-air car to the end of the train. Once the conductor checks your ticket then you are welcome to ride in the open-air car except in the the Albula tunnel. The Bernina Express is a good compliment to the Glacier Express, they both have great scenery, and the trains are very nice with large picture windows. One of the main landmarks of the Bernina Express is the spiral Brusio Viaduct where the train crosses under itself to change elevation before crossing the Italian border and arrival at Tirano, Italy. During the warmer months, the Bernina Express offers a bus service to complete the journey from Tirano, Italy to Lugano, Switzerland. I reserved and purchased my bus ticket as soon as I could and ended up reserving the front seat on the aisle thinking I would have a good view outside the front windshield, like what the driver sees. After placing my bags underneath the bus, I stood by the door talking with one of the other riders thinking no worries, I have the front seat. When the bus was loaded, I decided to get on and to my surprise that there was a husband and wife seating on the front seat. The man in broken English asked if I would switch seats with him due to his wife being claustrophobic and unable to seat in the seats, they purchased...feeling bad I agreed and made my way to the back of the bus where I could not see a thing. Totally ruined my experience but I guess I am glad I was able to help the couple. Now I must go back and do the trip again. Lugano was way different then what I was expecting with the humid air and palm trees, hard to believe I was in Switzerland. Another thing I learn was that Lugano basically is on 2 levels, the train station is on the upper level and the waterfront is on the lower level (of course). I typically chose a hotel near the train station, so I am not dragging my suitcase all over town or on public transportation. The Continental Parkhotel was a perfect choice. You walk to the end of the train platform and then across the parking lot right to the front door of the hotel. This hotel was built in stages between 1870 and 1906 and then sold in 1912 to Josef Fassbind where it still remains in the Fassbind family and it went through total renovation in 2006 and 2010. I call the look Art Deco, but I am no architectural expert, it has a old feel and look but everything is very well taken care of and clean. It was a pleasure to stay and the breakfast buffet is incredible. After checking in to the hotel I took the Funicular down to the lower part of town and walked over to the Parco Ciani, lakefront park with gardens and views. After strolling through the park I found a nice place for dinner and then made my way back to the hotel, I realized how nice the Funicular is when I tried returning and finding it was down for cleaning and I had to climb the stairs. Every day on vacation is a busy day and this was no exception.
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Steve