[14000rpm]

Day 14. Tirano,IT + St Moritz, CH

Tirano is a quaint little town I had stopped for lunch several years ago when I had to drive from Milan to Campocologno in Switzerland for a meeting in a medical Devices company in that town. That's probably the only business out there. I was in awe of the location and it's beauty. I was told by my acquaintances about the beautiful locales that the train, Bernina Express, takes as it goes from Tirano in Italy to Chur in Switzerland while passing St. Moritz.

Plan # 2 was to end with a drive from Bellagio to Milan for shopping but made some improvisation, as we're known to do frequently, and squeezed in Tirano for a day trip to Sr. Moritz.

Left the car in the hotel parking lot and walked up to the station to take the Bernina Express to St. Moritz and back. Quick short day trip.





The views along the way are simply a sight to behold all along.

































We soon reached St. Moritz where we had to hang around for a few hours to take the next train back to Tirano. St. Moritz is a beautiful city as are all towns/Cities in Switzerland. It is particularly more so since it is a Luxury resort town which, I reckon, is a skiing hot spot for the rich.

Just the sheer number of Luxury goods stores was a good indication of the kind of patronage this town sees.





The cars used as shuttles in this hotel, Range Rovers & Rolls Royce, is another indication if it isn't clear enough.





Had an expensive lunch and it was soon time to return to the Bernina express and soak in the views and soon enough, we reached the Brusio Spiral Viaduct.

The Bernina express, or the track for this train should I say, has a unique feature. The train passes by a Spiral Viaduct bridge which, very uniquely, makes the train turn around itself. This unique feature enables quick change in altitude while still avoiding the use of cogwheels typically used for steep climbs.












Go back in Town to pick up the car. In the meantime, another train passes by with a very unique open coach. Would've taken it if I'd known.



One of many supercars, part of an entourage, that were driving down from St. Moritz.



Picked up the car and left to next destination- Milan.

[14000rpm]

Day 15. Milan

Milan is my wife's favorite shopping destination. Frankly she wanted to go to the Luxury outlet mall outside Milan but the commute of 80 kms to get there and back impossible given that we had taken a day away from Milan agenda by adding in Tirano.

The Original original plan included a half day visit to the Alfa Romeo Museum in Arese area of Milan and hence I choose a hotel in that vicinity. With a day short, we took it easy and started the day late with the Alfa Museum being the only agenda. Finally I was having my agenda finding a place. Or so I thought. My Italian Colleague, who has lived in Milan all her life, called me and suggested some other shopping destinations near Arese. I started to see my agenda quickly collapsing. My 8 yr old daughter is usually the swing voter in the family. Fortunately she likes cars. Unfortunately, Like the mom, she likes Shopping more than cars.

I was forced to drive past the Alfa Museum to the shopping center. It was quite a grumpy day for me thereafter since the shopping continued to the city as well at the shops around the Duomo di Milan.



Passing convoy of international ISKCON disciples.



Passed by Ferrari Luxury store. I thought it was only a merch shop ala Ferrari Museum..



but it turns out, they are now a Luxury Boutique store too.





Anyhoo, after grabbing something to eat, we had to head back to the hotel as my day hadn't really ended...

[14000rpm]

Day 15 - Milan.

when I booked my flights, I had a moment of ignorance. Finnair flew into Malpensa airport, the main airport for Milan and flew out of Linate Airport in Milan. It is a smaller airport. This meant that the rental car, picked up at Malpensa, had to be returned to Malpensa or face a high fee for choosing a different location. This was a local rental company and I didn't want to give them a chance to fleece me. Hence, I chose to drive my family back to the hotel, drop them and the shopping stuff and drive out the the rental drop-off location which was in a remote location away from the airport and had a shuttle for pick-up and drop to Airport. As expected, I got dropped off at the airport and I took a train from the airport to get back to the hotel. It was getting quite late in the night actually and I was quite tired and the ride was long.

Choose to watch some Netflix to stay alert. While at it, I had the uneasy feeling that i was being observed closely. 2 late teens/early 20 chaps, who didn't really look like local Italians, were looking at me and talking amongst themselves. I started to get a bit spooked. Turned off my Netflix and put my phone and ear pods away. However, what had been seen, couldn't be unseen. I'm sure they also saw some gold on me. By this time, I heard them speak in Arabic. I recollected what a Bangladeshi shop keeper had told me when I was chatting up with him in Naples - There are lot of low-life criminals from Algeria who are mugging people in many cities.



It was now time to get vigilant but I choose to validate my suspicion by moving to a different coach. The suspects slyly came and sit in a nearby row. I made one more move to talk to some locals about what they would do in this situation. Frankly, they were quite surprised and weren't really prepared with an answer. The suspects came close by there too.

Their motive started to get clear in my head. They wanted to stay close just so they could watch where I got off and they'd get off too. With this state of awareness, I moved to the last coach which had an upper floor and tricked them by climbing down the other side. It did confuse them briefly but they too realized that I had understood their motive. However, they just increased their distance from me and waited at the next door watching for my exit with the overall motive still in place. I could see it in their eyes. In the meantime, I called my wife and appraised her that something bad could happen. Didn't want her to panic more if phone was lost and I had no means to call. She panicked anyway but I dropped her call after telling her my last location and called 112 - the emergency line. To my surprise, nobody answered. I tried to continue acting like I was still talking.

The stop was some 30 secs away. In this moment, I had to run my Fight/Flight assessment.



A fight seemed plausible since the suspect were short and not very well built. But then, I am a mid-40's 'Healthy' man who is, lets say, ahem..gravity friendly. I had over-estimated myself. What if they had accomplices? what if they had knives or any other weapons? Were the goods that they were targeting me for worth it?

A Fight was off the table.

A Flight meant running which, try as much as I have, hasn't been working for me. I simply can't run. Lack of Stamina. Goes back to my 'healthiness'.
Still no response on 112. I get a message that they will call back. I dialed my wife again who, in this meantime, had checked with the hotel reception. Turns out they gave a far dumber idea- Get a taxi from the train station. Standing and waiting for a taxi outside an empty train station at 11 in the night is like being a sitting duck. I might have as well walked up to them and given what they were going to sweat out for.

Train stopped.
Doors Opened.
I saw them, they saw me. Neither got off
We're both watching each others moves.
In my mind, in those few seconds, I thought I'll head to the next big station and take a taxi back to hotel.
However, just as the doors started to close, I saw they started to talk amongst themselves.
God knows what got into me and I dashed out within micro-seconds of the door closing at the exact moment they lost their attention.
Doors Closed.
Quick look back at the train and I saw only 1 guy standing at the door and staring at me. Where did the 2nd guy go?
Mind games started to play out and I started running as much as I could and as fast as I could with my wife still being online just so she could track my location.
Kept running while looking back. Still no call back from the cops and, fortunately, nobody behind. What if they took/stole a vehicle and came looking for me? Kept running till I reached hotel and that, finally, felt like a safe space.
Finally time to breathe.
Phew, what an ordeal.

The night wasn't over still. Had to pack up all the bags and made sure all the new stuff still fit within size and baggage limits to ensure smooth boarding the following.

Took a cab to Linate airport the next morning and got back home after yet another fabulous family vacation. One that ended like a thriller.

[Aditya]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!

[Annibaddh]

What an extraordinary trip mate! As it turns out, the trip from Cinque Terre to St. Moritz is the exact route I had done in the exact same car, a long time back though and in other direction. (We were driving down from the Otztal glacier near Innsbruck, with stays in St. Mortiz, Como & Milan). It is one of the prettiest drives ever - the sights as you climb down from Switzerland and high alps are incredible - and we took far too many hours, stopping multiple times just to take in the sights. And then the unmistakable Italianness of Tirano, which more than anything else gently reminds you that a border has passed by unnoticed.

Lovely images - and crisp story-telling.

[SithDefender]

Originally Posted by 14000rpm

Took a cab to Linate airport the next morning and got back home after yet another fabulous family vacation. One that ended like a thriller.

Astounding trip indeed! The ending had me on the edge of my seat !

[14000rpm]

Originally Posted by Annibaddh

As it turns out, the trip from Cinque Terre to St. Moritz is the exact route I had done in the exact same car, a long time back though and in other direction. (We were driving down from the Otztal glacier near Innsbruck, with stays in St. Mortiz, Como & Milan). It is one of the prettiest drives ever - the sights as you climb down from Switzerland and high alps are incredible -

It is indeed a very beautiful drive in that region. There are several Italy/Switzerland routes which are all worthwhile to take best of all being the Stelvio pass in the Dolomites.

Originally Posted by Annibaddh

and we took far too many hours, stopping multiple times just to take in the sights.

Indeed. Good guidance for future travelers - Never be on the clock when driving in this region and certainly not a night drive. There is simply so much that is unmissable.

Originally Posted by Annibaddh

And then the unmistakable Italianness of Tirano, which more than anything else gently reminds you that a border has passed by unnoticed.

I'm sure you'll agree- the architecture in Tirano feels more Swiss than Italy. One of the reason you don't notice the transition.

Originally Posted by Annibaddh

Lovely images - and crisp story-telling.

Grazie.

Originally Posted by SithDefender

Astounding trip indeed! The ending had me on the edge of my seat !

Thanks. Trust me, that train ride had me on the edge of my seat too. lol

[tofudriver]

This is a dream trip, except the last part, I am glad you were safe and had a fabulous time.
I am wishing to have a trip to Italy one day, be it with friends or LOML. I will revisit this thread when that time comes. Allora, from the Honorary member of pop culture references, you receive a "Badge Of Honour" for the use GIFs. It had me smiling, laughing and giggling like a 9 year old. ABSOLUTE CINEMA of a thread.

[14000rpm]

Originally Posted by tofudriver

This is a dream trip, except the last part, I am glad you were safe and had a fabulous time.

Yes. It ended well but could've gone very wrong. I never got a call back from the emergency line. Can't even trust them in Italy.

Originally Posted by tofudriver

I am wishing to have a trip to Italy one day, be it with friends or LOML. I will revisit this thread when that time comes.

There are multiple things one can do in Italy and there is something for everybody. There are several Italian travelogues right here for your reference.

Originally Posted by tofudriver

Allora, from the Honorary member of pop culture references, you receive a "Badge Of Honour" for the use GIFs. It had me smiling, laughing and giggling like a 9 year old.

.

Just fits the narration.

Originally Posted by tofudriver

ABSOLUTE CINEMA of a thread.

Thanks.

[Dieseltuned]

Absolute thriller and the ending will put a lot of Bollywood writers down. Good that you are safe and had a great holiday. Many tour operators in India are also now warning trip goers of robberies in Europe especially Paris. Is this due to the migrant influx ? Do you not need a visa when you use the Bernina express to Swiss ? Apologies if this is a dumb question .

[14000rpm]

Originally Posted by Dieseltuned

Absolute thriller and the ending will put a lot of Bollywood writers down.

. That's a very high praise. There are much better writer's right here in TBHP.

Originally Posted by Dieseltuned

Many tour operators in India are also now warning trip goers of robberies in Europe especially Paris. Is this due to the migrant influx ?

Paris is certainly a 'watch-out' zone. Too many pick pocketers.

Originally Posted by Dieseltuned

Is this due to the migrant influx ?

Partly yes but partly due to growing 'Roadmen' culture in today's youth out there who want to show off with high value goods without having to sweat for it. It mostly started out in UK but is found 'attractive' by many youth across Europe.

here (Meet My Ride | Range Rover Sport P400e Autobiography) is one such encounter of mine in Finland.

Originally Posted by Dieseltuned

Do you not need a visa when you use the Bernina express to Swiss ? Apologies if this is a dumb question .

Schengen Visa is needed for Italy anyway and that works for Switzerland. Nobody checked for Visa whilst on this train like it used to happen when mass-migration from Syria was a big problem for Europe. Here (Blast from the past : How I was almost Detained while being abroad) is my experience of the same.

[sukhbirST]

Grateful to you for sharing a great trip, which is a lifetime dream. Took me some time to go through the long thread with wonderful photos. For me old Rome and other vintage places are also must visit places.

[Chandler Bing]

Originally Posted by 14000rpm

We all agreed on one thing - Avoid over-crowded destinations.

I just did the exact opposite of this while I was in Italy this summer. Just visited all the over-crowded places of Rome , Florence , Milan.

I should definitely consider some of the beautiful places mentioned in your travelogue for my next visit

Originally Posted by 14000rpm

Frankly, I found this museum underwhelming from an enthusiasts point of view.

I echo this. I had huge expectations visiting it for the first time. Though I was not entirely disappointed , I was neither blown away. But the Enzo Ferrari did make up for my disappointment at the end. It did have some good display of cars.

[14000rpm]

Originally Posted by Chandler Bing

I just did the exact opposite of this while I was in Italy this summer. Just visited all the over-crowded places of Rome , Florence , Milan.

I'm sure you've noticed the long lines everywhere.
Saw some pix of friends in 2 hour long lines to enter the Colloseum, barely a place to set foot around Trevi (the famous fountain) and Spanish Steps.

Add to that the heat. it was around 38 Deg C in Rome when I had checked.

Originally Posted by Chandler Bing

I echo this. I had huge expectations visiting it for the first time. Though I was not entirely disappointed , I was neither blown away. But the Enzo Ferrari did make up for my disappointment at the end. It did have some good display of cars.

Ferrari's are still masterpieces. They are exquisite in their own way.

In fact I will be posting another thread with detail pix of each display in the Ferrari Museum.

However, my issue is that this museum in Maranello now focusses on a certain parts of their history and Portfolio whereas the Enzo Museum in Modena has the rest making it a mixed bag. This is not how it used to be several years ago. One place for all would make the experience wholesome.

Unfortunately, they have become a Prima Donna of sorts and they can get away with anything.