After a really stormy night high up on the Bernina Pass - the temperature gauge informs us of 2° Celsius and Felix whines about the danger of black ice (he does that below 3° Celsius) - we are once again grateful for our heating and filled tanks. Over a leisurely coffee (a coffee surogate extract for me, as connoisseurs say to cereal coffee!) we watch the Bernina railway as it winds its way like a Tatzelwurm up the pass and along the lake and listen to the hailstones pattering on the roof of the van. Camper romance par excellence.
No sooner are the cups washed and we dressed than the sun breaks through and it suddenly gets warm. "I read in a brochure that there is a market in Poschiavo on Wednesday. Shall we throw ourselves into the Rhaeto-Romanic-Italian hustle and bustle?" my friend asks me. "Sure, I'm in!" An espresso on the piazza, that's it!
So we roll down in bright sunshine, finally arrive in Valposchiavo and realise that it really is a beautiful valley. The marketing texts promise "the most beautiful valley in Switzerland", we can't really confirm that, we know so many beautiful valleys by now. And comparisons are always a bit depressing for the others. Deep gorges, rugged rock faces, larch forests on the slopes and again and again we encounter our cheerful red "Tatzelwurm", the Bernina Railway. Simply enchanting.
Felix winds his way down a good 1500 metres of altitude on well-built serpentines, curve after curve. In Poschiavo we give him a break and go for a stroll. The whole valley seems to be on its feet, the alleys of the sugary little town are littered with stalls of artisans and other regional products. Here handmade baby clothes, there the typical ring bread with aniseed.
We find a sunny spot in a café right next to the market square fountain and drink a "real Italian espresso". It gets quiet inside us, but only to let the sounds around us take effect on us. Behind us at the table there is a discussion in Rhaeto-Romanic, at the next table in Italian, much louder. Both languages trigger feelings of happiness in us. Two such wonderful language melodies!
By now it is warm, almost hot. Groups of hikers stroll past us, the children get candyfloss and splash knee-deep in the fountain. Across the street, a queue forms at the gelateria. And us? We sit here, watch and listen and are simply "there". What beautiful moments in our holiday.
But at some point we are drawn further, we look for a campsite directly on Lago Poschiavo and realise that last night didn't bring much sleep. So what? Just a short midday nap, why not?
Here at the lake, we suddenly feel an incredible calm come over us. With nice conversations and a few spoonfuls of eggnog, we let the impressive day come to an end in an enchanting place. Is the valley perhaps the most beautiful after all? Yes, perhaps it is the most beautiful.
Merci for "travelling with us
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Hello Heike.
Thank you for the beautiful pictures.
Had a lot of fun with your girlfriend in Switzerland.
It's nice there.
But here too! Best wishes from Sweden.
Unfortunately, the weather is not suitable for motorbikes.
Rachel
Good morning, dear!
Are you in Sweden by motorbike? Is Sweden a motorbike country? I rather remember long, straight roads. And: aren't you a Norway fan?
I am confused!
Nevertheless: have fun up there!
Kind regards - Heike
Hello Heike.
My motorbike buddy has been living in Sweden for a year and a half now.
I promised to visit them and I am doing so right now.
We are fans of all beautiful countries.😁
Sweden is also a great place to ride a motorbike.
Especially since there are only a few on the road here.
I'll send you some pictures via telegram.
Unfortunately the weather is crazy and I have already driven the almost 1000 km to Elmshorn (another friend) in the pouring rain. 🥵
Now we've only been out here twice because it's raining all the time.
Things will get better from Thursday! 🤣😂
I'm going back to Germany on Friday. 🤗
Well.......
Best regards from near Gothenburg.
Rachel
Hello Heike,
Thank you very much for the tip! I have put Valposchiavo on my list for the next tour of Switzerland. Have fun and greetings from the Ruhr area in the rain
Dear Petra, it's raining here too in the meantime. But it's not really bad, at least it's not so hot in our Felix.
And yes, visit Valposchiavo, it's really beautiful!
Kind regards - Heike
ohhh, how beautiful! I was there a few weeks ago too. Super descent from the Bernina Pass to Poschiavo by mountain bike <3
Hi Tina, that's brilliant. I've always admired the cyclists who pedal up there and back down again.
It's a beautiful area, isn't it?
Kind regards - Heike
Insanely beautiful!
like so many areas in Switzerland 😊