On New Year’s Day, 1st of January 2019, my wife, daughter and I made a bus tour to Bellinzona through Swiss Alps mountains, arriving at San Bernardino Pass at more than 2,000 meters high in the Swiss Alps. We finally arrived at Lugano.

　On New Year’s Day, the 1st of January 2019, my family and I took a scenic bus tour from Chur to Bellinzona through the Swiss Alps. We crossed the San Bernardino Pass (ca. 2000 meters) which connects the Hinterrhein and the Misox valleys between Thusis and Bellinzona. The journey lasted 4 hr. 16 minutes on the shorter scenic old postal delivery route.

　In Lugano, we met up with an old family friend, a retired judge and consultant, for coffee in the bustling old town. Together, we later strolled through the public gardens on Lake Lugano, which features a newly renovated board walk, and surprisingly tame swans.

　To get back home, we took a fast train directly from Lugano to Zurich. Travelling through the San Bernardino tunnel, the longest in the world, we arrived at Zurich’s main station in 2 hr. and 17-minutes flat.

　This is a new record for the Swiss Federal Railway, which we can highly recommend to tourists and business travelers alike. You can check out their handy website complete with Swiss efficient train schedules (in 4 languages): www.sbb.ch

　We’d love to hear how you welcomed in the new year 2019. Until we meet again, bye for now!

About the authors:
Daughter Erika Frey, MBA and father Sukehiro Hasegawa, PhD both are history buffs and fans of international travel. Living in Geneva aka the City of Peace and Christian Reformation, during the 80’s and 90’s, provided for an ideal central location to explore historic towns and pristine country-sides.