January 18 - Arosa

After breakfast and watching part of a match of the Australian Open, we set out and walked to the Bahnhof (train station) to take the 11:08 AM train to Arosa. The Bahnhof is nothing like it used to be when we had to drag luggage up and down the stairs to change from the Zurich train to the Arosa train. It is now ultra-modern with escalators, elevators and lots of shops.

Watching tennis in hotel lobby

The train was also more modern than the old "rattlers". We believe it is the most beautiful train ride anywhere. Your eyes try to drink in the gorgeous views of nature - maybe to try to remember such serenity when faced with the traffic and blight of I-85 north of Atlanta!  It was exactly 48 years ago this month that Ron first discovered Arosa. He spent his 20th birthday there. It is very hard to believe how quickly time goes by.

Rhaetische Bahn in Chur Station going to Arosa

Memories, Nostalgia

The train passes through the most beautiful forests and mountains. Shortly before Litziruti it passes over the Langwies viaduct, an impressive stone and concrete bridge of almost 300-meters long and 62-meters high. 

The train takes almost exactly 1-hour to Arosa, but we got off one stop before in the tiny village of Litziruti, and quickly walked to our favorite restaurant, Rutihof, but it was not open for lunch. So, we had lunch in Hotel Ramoz, right at the train station. Mike, Ron and Pat had soup, and I had alplermacaroni.

Mary's alplermacaroni

Gulash Suppe

When we arrived in Arosa, Mike and Ron went to the Bahnhof to rent sleds. We then took the free ski bus up to Praetschli. We started to sled down a very short way to the Burestubli for a gluhwein. Before we could even reach there I had a major wipe-out on the sled, screaming for help as I could not get any grip with my boots on the ice to stop. I actually tumbled off the sled on purpose, and wonder how many bruises I will be seeing in the next few days!

Gluhwein at Burestubli

Frozen Obersee (lake) prepared for horse races

Pat and Mike set off down the mountain, saying "See you at the bench". However, when we finally got to Ron's bench (as we had many delays), there was no one there. We figured they had taken the other path that was marked "Schlitten Weg", which proved to be the case.

Ron continued down the hill, waiting for me several times. I walked a good bit of the way, as the path was either pure ice or was in such condition that the sled had no traction. 

I had no idea where to find Ron once I got down into town. Ron hollered to me from the Weisshorn Bahn cable car station, which I had already passed by. I guess I should have realized, as we had mentioned going up to Mittelstation for an "Arosa dog".  I went back and we went up to the Mittelstation. It was too cold to sit outside where we usually do, and went into a glassed-in room where there was a Dixie-land jazz group playing (five gray and white-haired guys - tuba, trombone, trumpet, banjo, and saxophone).

We heard about four or five songs before it was time for the band to pack up. Ron wanted to walk/sled down to Praetschli, and I felt it was too cold and getting dark, so I said I would take the cable car back down. Had to wait about 20-minutes for the cable car, and it was COLD. Fingers were like ice even with hand warmers.

The sledding conditions were poor, so Ron ended up walking most of the way to the Praetschli - about 45-minutes.

Met at the Post Hotel, and took the 5:48 train, arriving at Chur Stadt (the old city) several minutes before Chur Station. Walked quickly to hotel.

Discussed restaurants with lady at desk. We had planned to go to Obelisco (where we had Grappa the other evening), and she said it was one of the most expensive restaurants in Chur, and recommended another Italian restaurant, La Vita, also nearby.

We walked there, and it was a very nice atrmosphere.  I had spaghetti vongole (clams) and Ron had mussels in a spicy sauce.

Ron's spicy mussels

Mary's spaghetti vongole (clams) - lots of garlic

La Vita open kitchen

La Vita

Came back to the hotel - Pat and Mike were just arriving from Arosa and had found our note and were about to come to find us. We all congregated in our room (sitting on straight back chairs) to relate our experiences of the day.