The Amazing Aussie Lady on the Bernina Express
The Bernina Express is simply one of the most enjoyable experiences one can have on this earth. The scenic railway is a four hour, one way journey from Chur, Switzerland to Tirano, Italy and crosses the highest railway summit in Europe at over 6,600 feet (I know, Donner Summit blows that away - but the views here are better by far).
The railway is simply amazing and one should see it in all four seasons if possible.
Our day was unfortunately not ideal since it was raining and clouds thick like cotton balls stuck to the mountain peaks and stole away many presumed majestic views. Even with this, the views were incredible.
The train is quite popular and as such we had to make reservations several months in advance and even then could not secure 1st class seats. The train was full.
My parents and the girls shared a four seat row (two seats on either side, all facing each other) while Jule and I were one row away and shared it with an elderly man (easily in his 80s) from "America via Barcelona" and an 81 year old woman traveling through Europe on her own from Australia.
The man found an empty seat next to his family and spent the majority of the ride with them, only returning to our row for a short bit when the seat finally filled a few stops after Chur. So Jule, myself, and the Aussie lady enjoyed the majority of the 4 hour journey together.
Let me tell you about the 81 year old lady from Sydney. To describe her a few words come to mind - adventuresome yes, determined for sure, talkative/social definitely, and a dictionary definition of the word "unlucky". I mean, if there a prize for having the most horrific things in life occur to you and your family, this lady would win going away. And yet here she was happy as a clam riding a scenic railway, thousands of miles from home, all because she had not seen it yet.
Aussie woman began by telling us (and I don't recall asking) about her family going back 5 generations in Australia because her great great great great grandfather was moved there from England as he was a convicted criminal and England used Australia as a penal colony at the time. Turns out his crime was slaughtering his own sheep to feed his children which apparently was a crime at the time. He was single father of 4...no 3...no 4...well ultimately 3 because his wife died shortly after baby #4 was born and then baby #4 died shortly after that, I think. So he was left to raise his three other children who ranged in age from 2 to 6. So he slaughtered a sheep and I am not sure why. In any event, instead of being put to death, he was given a sentence to Australia where he then opened an Inn and remarried (I presume to a fellow criminal?).
Fast forward to modern times and the poor luck continues - this lady's husband passed away a few years back (and she's been travel since) after working in Singapore and contracting some disease and dying a week later. Her children have issues. Her great auntie something or other twice married wife beating, murdering men from Argentina, One of those men murdered her great auntie something or others' daughter from the previous marriage and almost killed her. He was released from prison after only 12 years and committed suicide. Her daugher went nuts and married a Jewish guy and converted. This is bad because she's Agnostic and thinks all religions are phooey and some well known ones are downright shameful. I think while talking to us, her horse died. I mean it was one story after another and I kept thinking to myself "please, I'm trying to enjoy the view".
Just kidding - but really I was trying to enjoy the view and it seems rude to not look at someone when they are telling you about how everyone in their family has died tragically, lost a limb, etc and you're gawking at waterfalls and quietly pointing with awe at glaciers and mountains and vistas.
What truly was running through my mind was a mix of "sucks to be you" and "my dear God, and you willingly leave the house?" Because I do have to admire this most amazing Aussie woman ever. She's 81. She spends weeks at a time traveling to see places she has never seen. She has a smile on her face and enjoys meeting people and telling them about the tragic moments of her family's lives. She breeds horses. I start to wonder if she axed her hubby to collect life insurance to fund her adventures and horse breeding operation.
I'm not sure - all I know is that apparently Jews and Argentinians are evil incarnate according to this lady.
Go Granny, Go Granny, Go Granny Go!
The railway is simply amazing and one should see it in all four seasons if possible.
Our day was unfortunately not ideal since it was raining and clouds thick like cotton balls stuck to the mountain peaks and stole away many presumed majestic views. Even with this, the views were incredible.
The train is quite popular and as such we had to make reservations several months in advance and even then could not secure 1st class seats. The train was full.
My parents and the girls shared a four seat row (two seats on either side, all facing each other) while Jule and I were one row away and shared it with an elderly man (easily in his 80s) from "America via Barcelona" and an 81 year old woman traveling through Europe on her own from Australia.
The man found an empty seat next to his family and spent the majority of the ride with them, only returning to our row for a short bit when the seat finally filled a few stops after Chur. So Jule, myself, and the Aussie lady enjoyed the majority of the 4 hour journey together.
Let me tell you about the 81 year old lady from Sydney. To describe her a few words come to mind - adventuresome yes, determined for sure, talkative/social definitely, and a dictionary definition of the word "unlucky". I mean, if there a prize for having the most horrific things in life occur to you and your family, this lady would win going away. And yet here she was happy as a clam riding a scenic railway, thousands of miles from home, all because she had not seen it yet.
Aussie woman began by telling us (and I don't recall asking) about her family going back 5 generations in Australia because her great great great great grandfather was moved there from England as he was a convicted criminal and England used Australia as a penal colony at the time. Turns out his crime was slaughtering his own sheep to feed his children which apparently was a crime at the time. He was single father of 4...no 3...no 4...well ultimately 3 because his wife died shortly after baby #4 was born and then baby #4 died shortly after that, I think. So he was left to raise his three other children who ranged in age from 2 to 6. So he slaughtered a sheep and I am not sure why. In any event, instead of being put to death, he was given a sentence to Australia where he then opened an Inn and remarried (I presume to a fellow criminal?).
Fast forward to modern times and the poor luck continues - this lady's husband passed away a few years back (and she's been travel since) after working in Singapore and contracting some disease and dying a week later. Her children have issues. Her great auntie something or other twice married wife beating, murdering men from Argentina, One of those men murdered her great auntie something or others' daughter from the previous marriage and almost killed her. He was released from prison after only 12 years and committed suicide. Her daugher went nuts and married a Jewish guy and converted. This is bad because she's Agnostic and thinks all religions are phooey and some well known ones are downright shameful. I think while talking to us, her horse died. I mean it was one story after another and I kept thinking to myself "please, I'm trying to enjoy the view".
Just kidding - but really I was trying to enjoy the view and it seems rude to not look at someone when they are telling you about how everyone in their family has died tragically, lost a limb, etc and you're gawking at waterfalls and quietly pointing with awe at glaciers and mountains and vistas.
What truly was running through my mind was a mix of "sucks to be you" and "my dear God, and you willingly leave the house?" Because I do have to admire this most amazing Aussie woman ever. She's 81. She spends weeks at a time traveling to see places she has never seen. She has a smile on her face and enjoys meeting people and telling them about the tragic moments of her family's lives. She breeds horses. I start to wonder if she axed her hubby to collect life insurance to fund her adventures and horse breeding operation.
I'm not sure - all I know is that apparently Jews and Argentinians are evil incarnate according to this lady.
Go Granny, Go Granny, Go Granny Go!
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