Versione italiana : https://nathjy.travel.blog/2020/08/23/transalpino-versione-in-italiano/

St Jacques metro station, a small metro station, on Boulevard St Jacques, which over the years has preserved its authenticity with its stone walls and which benefits from an opening to the outside towards Nation. From there, the metro becomes aerial and takes its ease through the city. Our travellers descend four by four the steps leading to the platform in the direction of Nation. The subway arrives, the atmosphere is at a distance, even if it is challenging in a crowded subway train. Getting off at Bercy, they then walk to the Gare de Lyon, via the allée de Bercy. On one side, the large buildings of the Ministry of Finance and on the other, those who are without finance and homeless. In the underground, they are seized, despite their masks, by a strong smell of urine. They find it difficult to breathe. They enter the station and head towards Hall 2 as indicated on the notice boards. Platform 21, once they have passed the boarding gates, it is time to board the Transalpino. So it is in car 8 of the Parigi, Lione, Torino, Milano that the journey begins.

As soon as you get on board, there are voices with a singing accent. The disorientation begins with the language. Very soon after leaving Paris and its suburbs, the beautifully harvested plains decorate the roads. Then come the vineyards of the Mâconnais. From Lyon, the landscapes change and barely four hours after leaving the metro at Bercy, they rediscover with emotion the mountains of the Alps. Travellers raise their eyes in turn from their phones or their novels to admire the view and let themselves be seized by the beauty.

St Jean De Maurienne then Modane, the train gradually empties itself of walkers with backpacks. Soon there are only ten or so passengers left in coach 8. Shortly after Modane, an Italian controller arrives, who no longer checks the tickets but rather the temperatures of the passengers descending to Bardonneccia.

Outside, the architecture of the houses is changing, as are the colours of the plaster. We see more and more ochre and green tones. How good it is to feel the change of scenery slowly settling in. First stop in Italy at Bardonneccia; Signore, Signori…the ads are now in Italian. Second stop in Oulx. This place reminds them of their first year of living together when they lived in Briançon and ventured across the border for pizza and ice cream. It was in Turin that year that they discovered the Grom glacier. They were then happy to find one in Rue de Seine in Paris. Since then, they had taken the children and their friends there, when the weather was heavy in Paris, or to relax after a good day’s work.

On board the TGV, the Italian COVID protocol must now be applied and a vacancy left between each passenger. The train goes through the landscape and takes them every minute a little further away from Paris and everyday life. At each stop, they penetrate a little further into Italy. Alpignano, surrounded by its valleys of corn for polenta. They receive a message from Giulia, on Whatsap, in which she sends them a photo of their little love nest.

She has prepared everything and is waiting for them at the kitchen of Merlino for breakfast tomorrow morning. He raises his eyes again, kisses her gently, looks out and says; « we have changed the world ». They are happy, and now feel like a breath of freedom. Arriving at Torino Porta Susa, the platforms are empty and the last passengers seem to have deserted the train. Our friends are going to finish the journey in the company of the ticket inspector and the little lady who tirelessly pushes her cart of food from Paris, one way and then the other – tea, coffee, biscuits – … On the luggage racks, only their luggage and a small black backpack in the middle of the car remain.

En levant la tête, ils aperçoivent une autre voyageuse. Au dehors, on entend l’annonce « Signore, signori, TGV partente… » Le train roule longtemps dans un tunnel pour sortir de Turin. A Brandizzo, les voilages ornent les fenêtres et englobent tous les balcons pour se protéger de la chaleur. On aperçoit des panneaux Mercato, Pizzeria, Gelati. Le TGV roule maintenant tout doucement, les arrêts sont plus fréquents.

The sun sets in the distance, behind the mountains that stand out in unusual shadows. At the station of Santhia, it is completely dark and the last passenger of the car is about to get out. Approaching Italy, or any other country, by rail produces a totally magical effect, especially at the end of these months of confinement. Take the time to change your pace, to get out of your habits and let yourself be carried along by the slow pace of the journey. Time passes at the rhythm of changing landscapes. In the stations, one hears the announcements in the Italian language and they let themselves be lulled by the harmonies of this language, their ears get used to it quietly.

The train enters Milan Porta Garibladi station.

The docks are empty, on the tracks nature has regained its rights and is reclaiming the land as people move away from certain areas.

An hour and a half’s wait and here they are boarding the night train Milano – Roma. Tomorrow at around 6 o’clock they will arrive in the beautiful city of Orvieto and discover a completely different landscape. They can now let themselves be lulled by the lazy pitching of the car on the rails, they know that Giulia and Umberto will be waiting for them tomorrow at dawn under the arbour, facing the lake for a typical Italian breakfast.

Par Nathalie

Translated with http://www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)