Mornin’ luvs! Back in October I gave you Part 1 of A Train Ride through the Italian Alps, fully intending to share Part 2 with utmost haste. Alas, “best laid plans” and all that, and here we are in March. ๐Ÿ™‚

Last time we were wandering with my friends Margo, Katy, Kathy and Kate through a hand-painted archway into a courtyard in the village of Santa Maria Maggiore in Northern Italy.

We shall continue our ramble now, strolling past one glorious sun-drenched villa after another.

Italian villa garden

Mountain villa

Although all of these exquisite old homes had lashings of charm, my heart was captured by this one with its vivid orange walls and vine-covered arbor. Wouldn’t you love to create a cozy seat under there for long afternoons of reading and napping?

Santa Maria Maggiore villa

I was also charmed by the intricate murals on various walls along our route. At first glance some of them looked real. Can you spot the one that isn’t a painting?

Italian murals

The pealing of bells from the church tower reminded us that we’d better scoot back to the train station if we didn’t want to miss our train. We hustled back and arrived in plenty of time to amble along the tracks and inspect some grazing cattle making a racket with the huge bells tied around their necks.

Santa Maria Maggiore train station

Soon it was time to board. We found our seats and quickly opened the windows to let cooling mountain breezes fill the rather stuffy railway car. I fully intended to actually sit in my seat, but the views were too spectacular and I spent most of the trip leaning out the window taking pictures and sighing in delight.

northern Italian countryside

This little chap found us as fascinating as we found him, not budging from the fence until we disappeared around the bend. ๐Ÿ™‚

little boy watching train

Higher and higher the train went. We left the lush green valleys behind and entered the Italian Alps, mesmerized by the crystal clear mountain streams and craggy cliffs rising up from the trees.

Italian mountain stream

Every curve of the track brought some new delight: a hidden turquoise lake, beautiful mountain chalets with window boxes overflowing with vivid blooms, line upon tidy line of vineyards and orchards. The midday sun was so warm and with the gentle rocking of the train I was glad I had my head out the window or I would surely have nodded off.

train travel in Italy

Although it was already October, Italy was having a gorgeous Indian summer and everything looked warm and golden as we chugged over the border into Switzerland.

lake in the Italian Alps

I can’t wait to show you what we saw in Switzerland. ๐Ÿ™‚

What sort of travel do you like most? Are you as besotted by trains as I am?