Visiting Italy's Lake District: Part I - Travelling from Switzerland

Nearly a month ago - and no, I can't believe that it's been that long - I managed to get myself out of bed at around 3:30 am to finish my packing, close up the apartment and trudge to the local train station.  Rising that early was a true challenge!  I even managed to carry my wheeled medium-size suitcase for a time so that its noise wouldn't disturb my neighbors' sleep.  My backpack, containing among other things, my telescoping walking sticks, was slung on my back.  Fortunately for me, rain that had earlier been forecast for that date did not materialize and my short trek to the station passed without incident.  Unsurprisingly, given the hour, I was the only person waiting at the station, which looked pretty dark and deserted.

My suitcase looked pretty lonely in the passenger waiting area by the track, well lit in the circumstances.

The local train arrived on time at 5:00 am - this is Switzerland, after all - and took me into Geneva's Cornavin Station, a trip lasting about nine minutes because the train made no other stops.  From there, I made my way to the track where I was to board the Eurocity Train à Grande Vitesse (TGV) - high speed train - to Stresa, in Italy.  In Stresa, I was to join HWMBO and a group of individuals I had never met before.  We were part of a walking tour group sponsored by an organization that used to be known as Elderhostel, which has since 1975 provided lifelong learning opportunities at a significant value for older adults.  The organization has now changed its name to Road Scholar, a not-so-subtle play on "Rhodes Scholar."  This was to be my first "Road Scholar experience" although HWMBO was a veteran, having travelled solo on a cruise through Alaska's Inland Passage in 2009, a voyage similar to that described here.

When we had planned our travel in the December-January timeframe, while I was still in the US, we had discussed different possibilities.  One had been for me to drive over to the meeting place in Italy.  From there, we had planned that we could return to Switzerland after the tour through the Italian-speaking Swiss cantons, which I have never really visited during my time here.  But we rethought that idea when we realized that, considering the price of gas, the timing and logistics of getting together with the group at Milan's Malpensa Airport, and the expense of parking, a different course of action was warranted.

After informing myself about discount plane fares - none appeared to be available for travel to Milan during the period I was interested in - and discussing train fare possibilities with the Swiss Railways (SBB-CFF), I discovered that travelling by train was not only the most convenient alternative.  It would also be the least expensive.  The same train that travels from Geneva to Milan also makes a scheduled stop in Stresa, which is where the group was scheduled to be lodged for four nights and to begin the tour.  Meeting the group in Stresa would save the hassle of travelling all the way to Milan and then trying frantically to get out to the airport to meet the bus, scheduled to depart at 10:00 am, that would take the group - back to Stresa.  Best of all, because I was purchasing my ticket well in advance, I was eligible for a SuperFare of CHF 25!   The Superfare is excellent value.  The down side is that the ticket is only good for the train scheduled and on the date scheduled.  If one misses that train, no refunds are available. 

After discussing the train possibilities with HWMBO, it was decided that I would plan to meet him in Stresa with the group.  After the tour, we were scheduled to be dropped off at a hotel near Malpensa Airport - a night's lodging there was included in the tour price.  After having had a good night's rest after the tour, we would take the shuttle bus into Milano Centrale station and board the Eurocity train for Geneva to return here.  As a Swiss resident, I also have a half-price train subscription (demi-tarif abonnement, known colloquially as the "demi-abo"), which allows me to travel anywhere on Swiss trains at half-price for the duration.  HWMBO is not a Swiss resident and cannot use a demi-abo but was eligible for the Superfare!  But there was only one SuperFare ticket available for our train.  So, the return trip for both of us from Milan cost CHF 88 (CHF 35 for him with the SuperFare and CHF 53 for me with the demi-abo).

The first part of my early morning train ride was so dark that I couldn't see outside.  But gradually, dawn entered the mountains and the day began so that I was able to take a few photos of the Swiss countryside from the train.  Many did not turn out.  Those that did were primarily vineyards - terraced

and otherwise - in the Valais.

My train made brief stops in Lausanne, Montreux, Sion, Brig and the Italian city of Domodossola before arriving at Stresa.  There I hopped in a taxi for the very short trip to the hotel.

The long-awaited trip had begun!