Piero Bosio Social Web Site Personale

And we arrived in Hamburg four minutes before schedule. This was quite a good connection, I think. In 24 h 25 min from the French-Spanish border to Hamburg. Seven trains. Sure, the average speed is not that impressive, and there could be longer direct trains, but still. Changing trains is nothing to be afraid of. #Interrail

A German speaking man in a nearby cabin was very upset that he could hear me eating crisps while the train was standing still at the station. I wonder whether he expects the journey during the night to be very quiet? Sigh. Maybe he should stick to day trains, or use earplugs. Luckily I am not kind of person who lets people like that spoil my trip.

(Actually it was a woman. But I didn’t want to say that at first so that you don’t think I am being misogynistic.)

She asked the staff for another cabin and now she is complaining loudly a few cabins away about the noises there. And no, I have not eaten any crisps in the meantime. Let’s hope she doesn’t carry any weapons.

I would say she is German, not Swiss.

We are already 25 minutes late, haven’t departed yet. But I don’t mind, I am staying tomorrow and a night in Hamburg anyway.

And here is my Mini Cabin for the night. I have already used one of these once so I roughly knew how to configure it and where to stow all my stuff.

#EliittiMatkustaa #tirsk

At this stage of a trip, when realising it is time to start going back home, I always start feeling quite homesick and begin planning how to quickly get to Hamburg, Stockholm, and Helsinki. Seems that if I start from Cerbère tomorrow morning, I can be in Basel well in time for the night train to Hamburg, which now even has Mini Cabins. And this without using a single TGV. Yay. #Interrail

Pondering where to go next, tomorrow. I am beginning to go home now, but considered starting by going Cerbère–Portbou–Barcelona–Latour-de-Carol and then maybe the night train to Paris, or the Petit Train Jaune. But yeah. Probably too complicated. Even getting to Barcelona from here is harder than it could be.

There is a LiO train (operated by SNCF) to Portbou that leaves at 08:37 and arrives at 08:41.

While the Rodalies train from Portbou to Barcelona leaves already at 08:35.

In other words, exactly as one can expect.

In a sane world, the Catalan trains would start/end in Cerbère, not in Portbou. Just like the Occitan trains go all the way to Portbou, and start there. But I guess the Generalitat can't be arsed to find train drivers that speak enough French to be allowed to drive the train a few kilometres in France, or something.

#CrossBorderRail

Scientific poll. Please boost for coverage!

Decided where to go tomorrow. Will stay in a (former) hotel I have seen from the train a couple of times and found absolutely fascinating. (Nowadays short-time rental vacation apartments.) Anybody recognise it just from the picture? #Interrail

Oh look, this account looks so real, I have a new follower!!! (Sarcasm.)

(Even if it *was* a real person, with such a profile mentioning "Crypto", I would still block immediately...)

I love when you can fix a problem by just removing hundreds of lines of code.

But yeah, you have to sit by the window on the better side (which varies), and really know when to look out, to notice the spiral tunnels and see the track higher up or lower down where you travelled a moment ago. There are lots of other trunnels, too. Sadly my train was rather full and I didn't have a window seat.

@wrzlbrnft @partim Can you travel across France using #interrail using only regional services without reservation (and without luggage tagging, haha)? It should be possible, I think? (Ditto for Spain: Nope, right? For example Sweden: Maybe, except for the Kiruna–Narvik bit.)

Whether it is worth it (for France) is another question, if you don't have plans to stay for a longer time anyway. Just using a couple of TGVs you get across the country (Spanish border to Belgium or Germany) in like eight hours I think.)

Skimming Wikipedia, I learn that the railway between Cuneo and Ventimiglia originally when planned would have been within the kingdom of Sardinia, later ItaIy, but borders changed. If I understood German Wikipedia correctly, it was until recently the Italian region of Piedmont that paid for the maintenance of the line.

It is the second highest railway crossing of the Alps, after the Bernina line. (Which, as you should know, runs at over 2 km altitude, and not in a tunnel.)

The apartment has an electric heater both in the main space and in the separate sleeping chamber. The latter is so small that it warms up nicely, but the main space stays very cold. But at least the floor is not stone but some kind of faux parquet.

Fell asleep and woke up 15 minutes ago, and was afraid I can’t find anywhere to eat here now in the evening. It is not really a place for nightlife. And the local Carrefour closed at 20. But I found a nice low-key pizzeria.

I don’t regret for a minute that I came to this small place. Such a nice change from the big and bustling cities in Italy where I stayed. And there should be lots of nice hiking opportunities here. Cloudy weather predicted but no rain.

Arrived spot on time in Breil-sur-Roya, and found my apartment without problem. Matches the description.

This is at a much lower altitude than Limone, and on the southern side of the mountains, so no snow here.

@tml Fairly awkward that the #Trenitalia train to Ventimiglia plays its usual announcements in Italian and *English* even on the French side. Also, I doubt that what they say about laws has much relevance in France. Different country, different laws.

And now changing train in Limone, at 1010 m altitude. Edit: Yes, lemons do grow here, the guy working in the bar where I had a toast and a beer told me.

I wish there was a direct train all the way between Torino and Ventimiglia, or even Nice. Would have to be a hybrid train, though, or maybe one with batteries, as there is no electrification between here and Ventimiglia.

#Cuneo has an impressive two-deck viaduct, with railway below and road on top. Had time to go and have a look at it while waiting for my next train. Did not have the courage to fly my drone, though. No good hidden spot to fly from. We are close to the snow-covered mountains and there is a distinct alpine freshness in the air.