Reversing to Como via Zurich

This trip started with a (slow moving) train from Birmingham to London on Wednesday night (backwards). Eight hours in a hotel then the earliest Eurostar to Paris (backwards). We both really enjoy the odd sensation of walking out into the centre of Paris after a short train ride, it is always a shock that so much has changed after such a short ride.

Next up a chilly walk across Paris to the Gare de Lyon, pausing for a breakfast crepe on the way. I like Paris in the morning, before the streets are too busy with other tourists, I like the routine of coffee and croissants, the markets, and the delivery vans. A gentle wander across Paris is a good way to start the day.












This is our first experience of European rail travel, high speed Paris to Zurich (backwards), starting to feel a theme. It was hugely enjoyable, quiet, comfortable and on time.

We arrived in Zurich to a persistent sheet of light drizzle, the kind that soaks you right through. We stopped and checked the map just to make sure we didn't get any wetter than necessary, and promptly set off in entirely the wrong direction. I have to take responsibility for this, my navigation skills were spot on, I just took us to completely the wrong address. Turns out the hotel was 3 minutes from the station rather than 30. So 60 very soggy minutes later we arrived at the Town House Boutique Hotel. I am rather dubious about mentioning this little gem of a hotel as I would rather like to keep it all to us but as I'm not sure how soon we will be back in Zurich it is good to share. It was luxury without the price tag and even had brand name toiletries in the bathroom, it was a real shame that we were only there 1 night.

We got a little more soggy heading out for tea and ended up eating the local Swiss delicacy of Tex-Mex.






Note the paper napkins that I was using to dry my hair.

The rain halted over night and we spent the day wandering round Zurich enjoying the fresh air. It turns out Good Friday is a big deal in Switzerland and all the museums were shut.







After a long, but very pleasant, day wandering around Zurich it was back on the train again. There was a slight misplanning here. For a long time I have wanted to combine two of my passions, trains and mountains, and travel through the Alps by rail. So we did, Zurich to Como in Italy, one of the world's great train trips.

In the dark! (Backwards again)

Idiot.

On a side note to other travellers on this route, the station at Como is not well signposted. When very tired at 10.40 PM it might be possible to miss the station and only realise as you pull out of the station that you should have left the train. If you do happen to miss the station at Como the next stop of note is Monza about 15 minutes down the line. From Monza it might be possible to catch the 01:05 bus back to Como with an odd assortment of local gents. This bus takes an hour. Just a thought.