You only see what you know (Goethe)
During a winter excursion on a UNESCO World Heritage route in Graubünden, my train stopped in Thusis. An elegant lady was sitting outside on the platform, waiting: “Die Reisende” (The Female Traveller), a work by the Swiss artist Robert Indermaur. [German]
After visiting the Museum zu Allerheiligen, I came across this sundial at the Thiergarten building. Its inscription surprised me. It told me that an air raid destroyed this building in 1944.
Near Schaffhausen, there is a vast waterfall called the Rhine Falls (Rheinfall). The view above one can have using the Eglisau-Neuhausen Railway Line. Another chance to see this waterfall by train is taking the railroad Winterthur-Schaffhausen (Rheinfallbahn) which is crossing the Rhine via that bridge on the left.
This is not the best photo taken through my bus window, but what would be a visit to Schaffhausen without taking a pic of its signature landmark? Munot was built as a circular fortress in the 16th century. It serves as a venue for events organized by the Munotverein today.
I love train trips. I love to watch the landscape and to discover tiny details. And I love to take photos. Well, I am not sure about the last one.
My first Christmas market experience in a railway station was in Zurich. The Christkindlimarkt (Swiss pronunciation) takes place inside the entrance hall of Zurich Central Station. Here I also found some striking public art. So I saw high above me a work by Niki de Saint Phalle. The title of her sculpture was “L’ange Protecteur“.
After a relaxing hour at the SBB Lounge in Zurich, I wanted to go to Koblenz. Shocking! Instead of the announced German ICE, a Swiss IC was awaiting me. The outcome: No power outlets for working on the computer but cosy upholstered armchairs for reading a book. Which version would you prefer for a train journey?
Right opposite Zurich Central Station you find the Landesmuseum Zürich (Swiss National Museum). I had some time to spend and looked at several exhibits outside the museum. So I discovered this Gotthard Mail Coach.
On my walk through Zurich Central Station (Zürich Hauptbahnhof), I came across this public art created by Niki de Saint Phalle. The sculpture is titled L’Ange Protecteur. I’ve already seen a lot of public art by this artist in Hanover. This time it was my first encounter with her work at a railway station.
After a stunning ride with the Albula Railway, I had a short walk through the shopping street of St. Moritz. I guess I walked along the most expensive trademarks in the world.
That’s a fun idea: You travel with the Albula Railway up to the railway station Preda in the Swiss canton of Graubünden and sledge down to Bergün by a sledge. On my train journey to St Moritz, I saw many passengers leaving the train at this small station heading to a nearby sledge rental.
Pic of my train taken while sitting in the last coach. The train is just passing the famous Landwasser Viaduct of the Albula Railway, a world heritage site in Switzerland. In this huge scenery my train looks like a tiny object of a model railway layout, doesn’t it?