The sudden drop of temperature (from what I perceived looking outside from our private cabin) and the quiet but secure uphill crawling of TrenItalia in the crevasses of this mountainous landscape of the Alps - dotted with exquisite little village houses from a distance tucked-in along the footings of snow-blanketed hills and snow-capped mountains were my indications that we were entering the lovely country of Switzerland.

After exploring several cities of Italy with a guide tour and friend, it was time to visit more cities of mainland Europe. We had enjoyed an evening with friends in Milan a day prior, in time for welcoming the New Year. Also a couple of days earlier, we went to Milan's Centrale and attempted to reserve seats for a New Year trip going to Monaco, Barcelona, and Madrid before going south to Paris . The plan was scraped as the train operation was shut-down January 1. To make it worse, January 2 was already fully booked for these destinations, we were told. Lesson learned: no reservation too close to any day of intended trip. A contingency quickly occurred at this time and subsequently asked ourselves: "Why don't we head out to Zurich, Brussels, Luxembourg, and finally Paris?" It worked for us and fate seemed to be in agreement with the new plan as we were able to get our seat reservations from the counter that quickly.

It was early in the afternoon when we were sent off of our train from Centrale terminal by our friends. Soon, the train started on its way. The weather was nice, but chilly. After settling to our cabin, I took a nap. It must be a short one though as I was awaken from the sound of heavy footsteps of military in their Italian fatigue randomly checking passengers' travel documents. Shortly, it was our turn. I showed them our passports. Amid their imposing presence enhanced by their snugly-fitted brimless beret, rifle slinged to their shoulders, and all, I remained placid. They demonstrated an ideal way an officer should approach any civilian: an amicable expression and a rather courteous request of documents.

Can't say for sure, how long we were at the comfort of our seats, but after awhile, the view from outside became a bit darker. It must have been around twilight. I began to think of it as a thrilling prelude to  a serene landscape sightseeing which I was about to sketch in my mind. Imprinting them on my mental canvas was the best effort I could make if I want to capture all the interesting pictures reeling - as fast as our moving train, before my eyes. The camera was a lesser help at that time as the train had turned into a faster-moving metal beast chasing nothing but time in the occasional slopes and meandering terrain of the Alps. Nevertheless, it still was a surreal experience beholding all the scenery before us: the smoke-spewing chimneys from quaint little village house, the heavy fog spread across the hill, and some occasional solitary tree in their barest form as well as tall Aspen trees clustered together and side by side standing bravely in that lonely winter evening. TO BE CONTINUED...