Arrival in the beautiful Engadine Valley and the Lyceum Alpinum

I have been looking forward to seeing my beloved Engadine Valley for three years. This was definitely my summer home for 13 years, and here I was, heading towards the summer camp in Zuoz once again, but thanks to Brexit (😩) as a visitor, but at least able to see all the wonderful friends I have made there.
As you exit the 15-minute long Veraina Tunnel, there it is, the Engadine valley, which weaves its way through the mountains with the currently very full River Inn providing a lovely refreshing focal point, with its beautifully lush fields and forest-clad hills on either side. My heart soars every time I make this trip as the little red train heads towards Zuoz. 

As I puff up the cobbled road towards the Lyceum, at 1800m, I love passing the oldest house in the village, usually with one of the oldest and toothless residents outside. This time she was not around. Pity!

After a little mill at a steep part of the road, it is thankfully downhill to the simply majestic Rondell, roundabout, at the heart of the Lyceum Alpinum school. What an incredible place this is - and what a lot of stairs. I hadn't forgotten them, but three years makes a difference as to how you handle them, especially without a gentle acclimitisation in the neighbouring village, Madulain.

Feeling very superfluous on the opening day of the camp, and needing to stay away from the action, I took myself off to St Moritz and its lake. A very good idea! I happened to get in the Family carriage. It is such fun for little kids.

St Moritz, home of the rich and famous, but fortunately a fantastic place to enjoy the tranquility of the lake - with very few others. The wild flowers on the banks provide marvelous contrast to the blue of the lake and sky. 

Looking towards Maloja and the Bergell is equally stunning.

A warm afternoon calls for cool drinks. Despite the masses who stroll around the lake of StMoritz, there has been a surprising shortage of cafes to sit and savour the spectacular landscape which surrounds you. Thankfully, a new, very cute and relaxed bar has opened, the Gondolbar, providing pleasant background imusic, friendly service, beautiful views and a great place to watch all types walk past, mostly woth matching dogs!

I stopped to enjoy the model yacht race going on just next to a full-size yacht. It is unbelievable how manoevrable those models were and how fast they travelled.

Monday saw the camps start in earnest and it was time for me to also head to my Rumauntsch class, and in the evening to get settled into my little hobbit house, Weinfass Flurina. More photos will certainly follow. 

I am writing this on Wednesday, with a glass of NZ wine in front of me, 

.friendly fellow campers, and it is a very pleasant 20 degrees as the sun starts to go down 

after a very hot and tiring  day. Expecting my first visitor soon!


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