Up at 4.45 am, yes folks that is true adventurers dedication. Internal flight numbers six and seven this morning, Santorini to Athens short layover then Athens to Milan. The captain seemed to do his thing ok as we arrive, you know people say that pilots get paid too much - they only say that when on the ground and never in the air. Train from airport to the Milano Central station, still as good as it was last time I was in Milano. Showed the newbies the ropes, told them I knew a nice little pizzeria on the same level as the regional train departures plus gave them the cooks tour of the entrance and grande hall areas - what were they thinking when they built such an impressive space, assume at the time train travel was a statement of place and prestige.

Funny - M-L was placed on pick pocket sentry duty as we came into Milano airport, we were to transit onto the train for a service from Milano . She picked this character out that just happened to be in our near vicinity and for sure a pickpocket so we decided to tail the tailer, we followed him all the way to the office of the Polizia. He turned out to be the good guy and not the bad guy!

Decision time, where are we heading next. We go to seek some help at the information point at Rail Italiana with our number in the queue being 422, they were currently serving number 122. We then go to a self serve unit and punched in some destinations to see if any where not that far away, our plan is to now catch a service to Tirano in the very north east of Italy on the Swiss border and then speak to the Swiss rail people and if time suits move onto Chur.

We catch the train and enjoy the italian landscapes again plus my recommended pizza (you will remember it well John), this train line for the last section of the journey runs right along the shores of Lake Como . We sat looking at the breathtaking outlook of the lake and accompanying scenery that in many places butts right up to soaring mountain ranges. It is only broken by holiday resorts and islands with large Tuscan style villas, believe some of the worlds rich and famous have residences in this neck of the woods. Thinking of making a small purchase ourselves.

Arrive Tirano and seek help from the swiss train info people, they think it strange that five people arrive at their doorstep with no idea as to where or how. They are very helpful indeed, we now are the proud owners of swiss flexi rail passes( after they triple checked that they were the best value for money) which had to be paid in Swiss franc. We made some big and quick decisions in a few short minutes. We are about to go on the world famous Bernina Express, this just so happens to travel from the station we are at to the one we sort of wanted to get to.

The trip is not that far but will take a little over four hours, it is due to leave at 3 .50 pm so not in at Chur until after eight bells. It was an unforgettable railway experience ( see I always said that I like train travel) nearly 200 bridges crossed and many tunnels tunnelled. We climb to just on 2,300 metres a.s.l. There are glaciers of dirt colour ice and some that are like blue diamonds. There are lakes with ice floating, we dared the water queen but not touching that one. The ice and snow holding on doggedly in summer greets us around each twist and turn. Small chalets cling seemingly by a wing and a pray in positions unknown to our Australian way of life. The majestic nature of the descending valleys all make for sensory overload - again. Our decent into Chur was swift from such a height down to a mere 700 metres a.s.l.

A word on the swiss people, particularly the the engineers that forged the roads and rail, stunning achievements - masters of the craft of invention in country that would have not tamed easily, true scientists. The workers, their will to construct in climatic and environmental conditions less than conducive now there to stand the test in time for all to utilise and appreciate .

It is now getting on dark and no one in the city area wants to give us a great deal of love, maybe rip us off but thats about it. We have to seek accommodation a little further out and end up sharing an interconnecting room with four single beds for the very reasonable (not) price of 375 Swiss francs. We have also booked our train route for tomorrow so go online to book accommodation. We are beat as been on the road for a long time today all with so much to take in, my tiny little mind and it's filing cabinet can only take so much wow in one day.

The wows are to continue tomorrow as we are going on one of the most famous (yes another) train trips in the world - the Glacier Express. It travels all the way to Zematt, they promote it as the slowest express train in the world.

I am pushing up zeds before the others have time to settle inside the front door. What another great day, breakie in the Greek Islands, lunch on the train in the north of Italy and then dinner in our expensive room in Switzerland for dinner.