Birthday on the Benina

My 26th birthday would be spent in a very special way as we would cross the border from Italy to Switzerland and begin our journey through the alps. This started by catching a train along Lake Como before ascending through the snow-covered mountains of Europe. This was incredible. We got to watch the landscape change from green and vibrant to the smothering white that engulfed all the trees, rocks, grasses, and mountains. Before long, the only sight within our grasp was the very tips of trees and the endless white that sparkled as the sunlight hit it. This was personified when we approached the highest altitude of our trip and came across a "reservoir." This was a water source during the summer, with one side emptying to the Mediterranean and the other entering into the black sea. However, at this time of year, it appeared as little more than an ice desert, seeming devoid of life. To our surprise, as we continued along the frozen lake, we began to see kite-snowboarders, utilising the power of the wind to propel themselves through the snow. It was an interesting way to snowboard and not something I had ever seen before. It did look very fun, though. Shortly after this, we approached a location in which we could stop for some photos and soak up the magnificent view at one of the highest altitudes I had experienced on my travels. 2091m above sea level. I believe the only time I've been higher was when I completed Bobotov kuk and the Serengeti. We then continued our travels through the rugged mountains weaving through the valleys and crossing mountain paths until we arrived at the station of St Moritz. Unfortunately, we only had about 2 hours on the train, but it wasn't particularly comfortable, so by the end, I was happy to be able to stretch my legs. This meant that when we arrived and looked over the lake at St Moritz, we gathered the courage to complete the walk to the hostel as opposed to a bus, which would have been easy to catch. Although this meant that we had to drag our bags, it hardly took away from the beautiful landscape that lay ahead of us. The mountains that surround the city provide a perfect backdrop to the alpine town, the ice lake, the beautifully frozen trees, and the occasional semi frozen river. These rivers gave an insight into exactly how clear the waters are. Capturing melting ice from the mountain, there is little opportunity for pollution, and so they remain crystal clear. The air was so brisk when we arrived at St Moritz that even the trees had developed a layer of frozen ice on its branches, as though replacing its leaves for the winter. This white facade to go with the snow-covered paths, lakes, and mountains meant that it encapsulates the ski town perfectly. After about an hour of walking, due mostly to us enjoying the scenery, we arrived at our hostel just an hour before we could check in. As such, we dropped our bags and backtracked along the river to get a better view of what the town had on offer. We saw people playing, walking their dogs, and ice skating on the frozen river, showing how they transformed the space during winter. We learnt later that they even host horse racing and polo events on the lake during winter. The cold didn't stop the locals from enjoying Gluhwein, hot chocolate, or a coffee outside and soaking up as much of the sun as possible, while it was still in the sky. After we endeavoured onto the frozen lake and enjoyed a warm drink ourselves, it was quickly getting cold as the sun's strength dwindled. As such, we headed to the supermarket to get some groceries for the next couple of days before going back to the accommodation. We enjoyed some drinks to finish off a great birthday and rest while we defrosted in the rooms.Read more