The journey
“Life is a journey, so enjoy the ride.”
―
We just got back from Bologna.
Part of our voyage involved a ride on a high speed train. In recent months we’ve taken two, completely contrasting train journeys in Italy.
The first was in July, on Transiberiana d’Italia’s vintage train from Sulmona, in Abruzzo to Carolvilli, in Molise. We boarded this beautifully restored train, passing through the carriages which were built in the 1920s and 1930s.
Our carriage was in first class, with lots of space and velvet seats; such an elegant way to travel and a reminder of the past, when travel was a little more “piano, piano”.
We took time to pass through panoramic Peligna Valley and Rolle Mitra, transiting Pettoraona Sul Gizio, Cansano and Campo di Giove stations, and entering the stunning territory of the Maiella National Park.
We arrived at Palena station mid morning. And it was a little chilly, as we were at an altitude of 1258 meters, the highlands of Abruzzo. Our journey continued through Rivisondoli-Pescocostanzo and Roccaraso. We descended towards the upper valley of the Sangro river, and reached the stations of Alfedena-Scontrone and Castel di Sangro. Soon after this we entered the region of Molise. We meandered through about 130 kms of stunning, wild Abruzzo. We spotted two wolves near the track, and various hawks flying over the mountains.
The train pulled into Carovilli just after 1 pm and everyone’s thoughts were turning to lunch. We feasted on fettuccini and tartufo shavings, bruschetta with fresh pomodorini and a decadent tiramisu. After lunch we visited a brilliant local ceramics workshop, La Cantina 1959 – Artigianeria Molisana.
The historic train returned to Sulmona on the same day, slowly. The train finally arrived at Sulmona station that evening, at nearly 8 pm. It had been a long day.
One month after us, pop star Madonna travelled on the same train.
This month we found ourselves boarding a completely different type of train, Italo’s bright red, high speed service, which connects Rome and Milan with many cities across Italy. The design reminded us of the Shinkansen, or bullet trains in Japan.
We boarded the train in Milan, with our tickets, masks and hand gel, as well as our green passes, mandatory for travel in Italy from September 1st 2021.
We travelled from Milan to Bologna. The journey, which typically takes 2.5 hours, took just 60 minutes with Italo. We sped passed the outskirts of Milan, through Lombardy, back into Emilia Romania, and arrived at Bologna’s central station. At one point during the trip, the information screen displayed a travelling speed of 300 km per hour. And it can go faster.
So, which was better, the hare or the tortoise?
Both trains took us on trips to new places. Both got us from A to B. The vintage train was a slow journey across stunning landscape, which we would have missed if we’d simply been whizzing through. And it was all about the journey, of taking in the essence of luxury train travel, from a bygone era, as well as the scenery.
Italo’s modern, red super train got us back to Bologna, after an already full day of travel from Switzerland. The faster journey was really convenient and meant that we didn’t have to do an overnight stay in Milan.
It’s hard to compare the two trains. Two entirely different travel days. Two very different journeys, in the same beautiful country.
But perhaps these two train trips can provide us with a metaphor for life. Maybe we shouldn’t rush through life, and miss so much en route.
Working life has most of us on a treadmill for many years, slaves to time. But when does that change? When do we allow things to take as long as they take?
What do we miss, when we speed through life?
© Maggie M / Mother City Time
