08:25St. Gallen→09:48Chur09:58→11:45Samedan11:48→11:57Pontresina |
Early in the morning I took the train from St. Gallen to Pontoresina. On the way, I passed the famous Landwasser Bridge, which I captured on video. The Albula line from Cours to St. Moritz shares a common section with the Gletscher Express, especially between Tuzis and St. Moritz, a traditional line with more than 100 years of history. This section is considered the highlight of the Rhaetian Railway, with a series of viaducts and loop tunnels that overcome elevation differences along the mountain ridges.
Since the train I boarded was bound for St. Moritz, we changed to a connecting train at Samedan, the previous stop, to get to Pontoresina. Pontresina Youth Hostel was located next to the train station, but check-in was still early, so I left my luggage there for the time being and went sightseeing in the area. The nice thing about this town is that they offer free transportation around St. Moritz for their
guests (Bergbahnen Inclusive).
The buses run in all directions and are convenient, although trains do not depart frequently in this area. Of course, the ride is free of charge.
Bergbahnen inklusive": In the summer, the Engadin region offers free and unlimited rides on the most attractive mountain transport (cable cars, ropeways, chair lifts) to the most spectacular viewpoints. The "Bergbahnen inklusive" (mountain transport) is a great service. As the name "Bergbahnen" (Mountain Transportation) & "Inclusive" (all inclusive) suggests, this convenient transportation pass allows unlimited rides on the most attractive mountain transportation services in the Engadin region, including cable cars and ropeways. And you get it for free when you stay at least two nights in a designated hotel or holiday apartment!
The last time I was in a youth hostel, all of them had coin-operated laundry machines so I didn't have to worry about washing clothes, but the Pontoresina youth hostel didn't have that and only had laundry service, where for 10 CHF I fill a designated laundry bag and put it out at the counter in the morning and pick it up at night. I had no choice but to go back to the hostel and wash my underwear in the washroom every day and hang them inside the room to dry. This was the most difficult part of the trip.
Stayed: Pontresina Youth Hostel (7 nights) Walking a day: 6.1 Km
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