Once I finished at ASI last Friday, the Italian part of my project here in Europe was complete. That means it’s time for me to move on from this beautiful country to the second phase in Toulouse, France.

I’m sad to be leaving. So, of all of the Italian songs I’ve heard and had played for me over the past few weeks, there’s one I think fits perfect for this parting.

With the accommodation I have waiting for me in France, I can’t check in until Monday. Meaning I have three days to complete my journey, and I’ll be honest, it won’t take me three days. So, I’ve got only one thing on my mind to make the time up: detours!

I got a sleeper train from Rome on Friday night and just about managed to get some rest. I decided against paying nearly double the price (€40) for a bed and opted for the chair. It was uncomfortable, but I definitely dozed off before changing at Verona. After I went to Milan (for €10), then on to Arona (for €5). Here there was a problem, the line between Arona and my next stop, Domodossola, was out. Thankfully, there’s a rail replacement bus, which will take me there in about the same amount of time, I’ll still be able to make my connection.

Whilst others on the bus complained about the 28 degree heat here in the north of Italy, I felt surprisingly cool. This was the first time it had dipped below 30 for me in the past couple weeks so I almost felt like wearing a jumper, and whilst the bus was crowded I couldn’t help but find myself smiling.

I’ve mentioned a few times the surreality that washes over me from time to time, where I suddenly realise how ridiculous what I’m doing is and how lucky I am to have such an amazing opportunity to be here. This was proven right when the bus took the next left onto the lakeside road.

Lake Maggiore

Maggiore is the second largest lake in Italy, and is so large that it also move into Switzerland in the North. As my bus drove alongside it, I gazed upon the waters and realised… I couldn’t see the other side.

Lengthways, the lake is 64 km long but it also has a width of around 5 km. On a summers morning like today, the nights mist still hadn’t properly faded. The lake instead now looked like the edge of all reality, that one could go into its waters and never return.

Occasionally however, islands appeared. These were completely built up and looked more like oddly built boats than natural occurring areas. As my bus continued northwards, I found myself wanting to stay. I could hear the sirens call from the lake and longed to continuento gaze upon the waters, but I had connections to make, and a destination to get to. Returning would have to be later.

Eventually, my bus pulled in to Domodossola and, after having thanked the bus driver, I headed into the station to my next train. The bus journey had cost me only €5!

Domodossola

Despite having to drive here instead of train, I still had a long wait until my next train arrived. After a quick bathroom break (only €1 for the station toilets), I grabbed a foccacia sandwich from the station cafe and went to sit on a wall by my platform.

In the UK, being stuck at a station for a long time is almost torturous – if I never see Preston station again it will be too soon – but here in Italy it’s different. Surrounding Domodossola are the beginnings of the Alps. Large tree lined hills were on all sides and nature had already began to reclaim most of the station.

I realised here, this would be my last view of Italy, a country I had grown to adore over these past couple months, and my final look did not disappoint. As I sat eating my lunch, I could hear birds singing in the trees opposite my platform and with a bit of patience I managed to identify them.

Common Chaffinch – Frigilla Coelebs

These small birds are found all over the Northern hemisphere but especially in Europe. The Chaffinches enjoy woodland areas where they can build their nests amongst the shrubbery and make quick zippy getaways from predators.

I know there’s a page about Chaffinches in Observers book of Birds back home in the UK, I only wish I’d brought it with me!

Once I’m home, I’ll update this post with the proper information about the birds, for now though the adventure continues…

*

Eventually my train arrived. It was a local Swiss train and Domodossola is one of the furthest out stations that the company operates in. The train was gorgeous with near floor to ceiling windows and large spacious carriages. The Swiss really do know how to live!

I looked at a map and saw where my train would be crossing the border, under a mountain! It looked like I’d be heading into a tunnel before then, my amount of time left in Italia was in the minutes.

I gazed out of the window longingly, like watched an old friend leave your house after having spent hours enjoying eachothers company. The walls of the valley climbed higher and higher and soon enough I was plunged into the darkness of a tunnel.

Italy was behind me.

*

After about 20 minutes, the midday sun once again reentered my retinas. We had made it to the other side and were now definitely in Switzerland. To the right of me were mountains, to the left of me were mountains, but in front of me was my next station stop.

Brig

Located in the South of Switzerland, Brig or Briga is a town that has been popular since the middle ages. Most well known for its hot springs at the time, the town has since gone through many eras of revolution improving the architecture, connectivity and even becoming world famous from time to time.

For me though, Brig is simply the next stop on my journey and as my train pulled in I stepped off into the cool Alpine air.

No sooner than I did that I felt a drop of water on my face, then another, then dozens. It had begun to rain! I love the rain at the best of times, but after the past few weeks of roasting Italian sun, this was like a miracle. I stood for a moment under the water pouring down on me, feeling it cool every part of my exposed skin. I may only be in Switzerland for 24 hours, but I knew then I was going to like it.

Outside of Brig station is another station known as Brig Bahnhofplatz, here all of the local trains and trams up to the alps are launched, but I had some time to kill until then. So I grabbed a pastry, and sat under the tram shelter watching the rain fall.

*

Soon enough, I was on the final leg of my journey: a slow tram up the Mattertal, promising incredible views and comfy seats! I had checked the map earlier, and though the best seat would be on the left of the tram, which would face East as we moved. Sure enough, my prediction came true.

The Mattertal

This valley cuts through the southern Swiss alps and leads all the way up to the town of Zermatt, my final destination for my travels today. All the way down the valley runs the Vispa, a river formed from the many waterfalls cascading down the mountains. My tram winds across the river on the way up, giving us many excellent views of the rapids below.

There are quite a few stops on the way. Some of them are used so infrequently that you have to ask the driver to stop if you want to get off there. Luckily for me I was heading the the terminal stop so I could sit back and relax throughout.

Occasionally, the tram climbed much quicker than the river, and we soon saw why. The river would sometimes change into a deep chasm which must have been carved out by the flowing water over millions of years. Other times, the river took on the appearance of a simple stream winding down the terrain. Regardless, the water cascaded down at high speeds as we climbed higher and higher.

On the table at my seat, there’s a map. Here all of the towns that are visited by this specific tram are identified as well as sometimes their elevations above sea level. I could see Visp, one of the first stops, at 651 m so Brig must be about the same. I could also see my destination…

“Next stop…” announced the tannoy, first in German, then French, and finally English.

“…Zermatt.” Elevation: 1,605 m