Homeward

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All good things... as they say.  You've not had much railway infrastructure on this trip, which is entirely by rail, so here's some. Not entirely sure where this is, so I'm plumping for Santa Maria Maggiore.

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An early start to a long day.  The first train had been a bit of a mystery until we explored the station late yesterday.  We'd entered the one station from the east when we arrived; and it was a terminus station.

So, like how were we travelling West when we leave?

Tucked underneath the station was another platform, which went under Locarno, Ascona, and out the other side.  Swiss civil engineering will impress me for some time to come.

First section was to Domodossola in this small, short but very flexible train.  From there it was TGV to Paris, a taxi across Paris (that's an entertaining experience for an Advanced Driver; I don't think you'll many those manoeuvres in any book), then Eurostar to London, and home.

The landscape of northern France is really exceedingly dull.

And home with the commuters.

We knew when we were in the UK again: announcements of a Leaf Fall Timetable greeted us.  I don't think the Swiss have those...  

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One nice surprise was on the TGV.  Being still on our First Class ticket at that stage we were served a perfectly respectable meal and wine.  Rounded off a a rather memorable holiday.

Now a day to recover before Real Life kicks in again.