Leaving Milano we immediately encountered problems. We stayed in a loft apartment above the 5th floor. We went down the stairs to the 5th floor and pushed the elevator button. Nothing happened. The electricity had stopped. Our schedule to catch the train was tight … our train this morning was the last one out to Switzerland today because of another one-day train strike in Italy. Rob quickly took two trips down then up and down again for our bags. I followed with the “lighter” bags.
Already exhausted, Rob looked up an Uber, and it was $75 dollars. No way. It is a lot more expensive during rush hour. We walked a short distance to the Duomo and got a taxi for $12.
When we walked to our train, our ticket said Car #28. There were no cars above #11. Rob asked the conductor, and he said to just get on Car #8 or Car #9 and sit wherever.
The Swiss trains always run on time. After four trains with only five minutes between each train, we arrived at our hotel in Switzerland. On one side is a view of the famous Matterhorn (and I’m not talking about the Disney ride), and the other side (our view) has other impressive Alps and glaciers at eye level.
Rob’s Story
In 1973 when I was 19, my friend, Mike, and I toured Europe for three months with a Eurailpass. One of our stops was in Zermatt, Switzerland, to see the Matterhorn. When we arrived, it was raining, and I couldn’t see any mountains. I had no idea which direction the Matterhorn was.
Since we didn’t have a lot of money, we stayed at campgrounds. That night we pitched our tent and went to sleep in the dismal weather.
About 6:00am I woke up. I peeked out of the tent to see what the weather was like. All of the clouds were gone. Right in front of me down the valley was the Matterhorn. It looked spectacular! I stared at it for a brief time and then went back to sleep. I didn’t wake Mike.
A couple of hours later we woke up. When I looked out of the tent I was stunned to see that the clouds had rolled back in. Once again it was impossible to see any mountains.
It stayed cloudy the rest of the time that we were in Zermatt. Mike never did see the Matterhorn. I had no photos to prove that I had seen it. I hoped that one day I would return.
Rob is experiencing a degree of altitude sickness which is understandable when one goes from an elevation of 400 feet to 10,300 feet in 12 hours.
Even Mark Twain had written about hiking up the Alps to see the Matterhorn. Porters and horses carried everything … sometimes even people on sedan chairs. There is a story about it in his book, A Tramp Abroad called “Climbing the Riffelberg”.
Our hotel was very isolated but right next to the famous Matterhorn. Because it is so remote, dinner was included with the room.
I read that I would get some amazing pictures if I woke before sunset. I set my alarm hoping that my photographs would be worthy. I snuck out of the room. Rob was very restless in the night. I will snap some pictures and then wake him.
Now is the time for this mere mortal to capture what only God can make. Since I am created in His image, He encourages me to create. I can only mirror what He has done!!
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