We have been to the Canadian Rockies but never to the Alps. Being a mountain climber when I was a youth in Indonesia, I had been reading about European mountains such as the Matterhorn, Zermatt, Jungfrau, etc. Even though we didn't have the time to visit those peaks, we were very satisfied with the scenic fiesta that were bestowed upon us when the train started to enter the Alps region in our Zurich-Milan route. What made it so beautiful and breathtaking was when we saw peaks with ice-caps and glaciers on one side of our view and turquoise green lakes on another side of the picture postcard scenery. I just wished I could paddle my canoe on those lakes :-). Lake Lugano which is not far from the Italian border was one of the most beautiful, no wonder it is a resort area for the Swiss and Italian people.
Zurich-Milan was the first of our allowed 5 days Eurailpass trip. There were only 2 wagons of 1st class fare, the rest were 2nd class wagons. However, they were almost empty. Throughout the 5 days we were able to have a private compartment (6 persons sitting) because there were not too many 1st class fare passengers. The trains in the 3 countries we travelled were pretty clean and so were the washrooms. Their schedules were quite precise, departing and arriving as planned. I love train travel because it allows me to do many things while on the train. We don't have to waste time going through security check and wait for hours like when we travel with airplane. We don't have to fight traffic, especially in the cities like when we go with car. Seating in a train first class compartment is even better than airplane 1st class, with one exception. There are no stewardesses to serve you :-) but if you fly Air Canada, only old ladies serve 1st class passengers anyway because it seems that one has to work for 25 years before being promoted to serve 1st class passengers in the North American airlines :-).
When the train passed Chiasso, Swiss border town after Lugano, the Italian immigration officer embarked and checked our passport. The train arrived at Milan central station at 3:35 PM, about 2 minutes difference from the written schedule. I haven't told you yet. There is no camping facility in Milan. The closest campground is in another town and it will be too long or a waste of time to go back and forth from that campground to Milan. The same thing in Venice. So we decided early to stay in a modest hotel in both Milan and Venice. Through our Europe Lonely Planet book, we were able to find the closest hotel to the station, Abergo Italia. The rate was not too bad for that one star hotel, 70 Euro per night. Our room was quite spacious and there was a bath or shower inside. We stayed for 4 nights in Milan and we enjoyed the city very much. We arrived on May 8 and thus had one more day preparation prior to celebrating our 27th wedding anniversary at the Duomo :-). One small note, besides US $ traveller's cheque, I also purchased (American Express) Euro T.C. It was not widely accepted yet. So I cashed them all in Milan at an Amex office. Milan's transportation system was one of the best in the cities we travelled. It has 3 main subway lines, M1 to M3 and numerous tram and buses. The best deal was to buy a 48 hours ticket that entitled us to use any kind of public transportation, 5.50 Euro. Like in Zurich, this was the way we do our own sightseeing and were able to go to many places in the city. We love Italian food and having a sweet-tooth, eating Gelato (Italian ice cream) outside a cafe was like sitting in a paradise for me :-).
Father Kusmaryanto joined us on our D-Day, May 10th, coming straight from Rome to bless us :-). Yes, he celebrated the Eucharist on our 25th wedding anniversary in Rome in AD 2000, together with 6 other Indonesian priests. I am looking forward however to the time he will graduate from his study and be able to celebrate my 30th wedding anniversary with him in Pasang Surut or Deso Musi Banyu Asin near Palembang :-). That's one of the reasons I keep exercising and try to be fit all the time. One needs superman energy to survive in that harsh environment.
After meeting Father Kus at the train station, since it was already late or lunch time, we went to a nice Italian restaurant and enjoyed another fine Italian meal, thanks to the Italiano ability of our translator :-). Then we went to the Duomo and prayed in front of Fr. Kus's patron saint, Carolus Borromeus whose body was rested in a crypt at the cathedral basement. We had prime and excellent time throughout our blessed May 10th day together with Fr. Kus.
However, in the next episode we will tell you about how pissed-off was the gentle Fr. Kus upon visiting JUST a dining room called Il Cenacolo where we had to pay 29 Euro for seeing a faded picture that was painted on the wall of that dining room :-). Take care my friends, hope you like my story so far. Ciao.