Frozen Moments Switzerland

Originally published by Traveller (SMH/The Age)

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Excerpt

Three things exercise a constant influence over the minds of men’," wrote Voltaire in the mid 18th century. ‘Climate, government and religion.’

Climate change anxieties as old as time come up as we wend our way over the twisting viaducts of the astonishingly beautiful Bernina Railway in Switzerland.

It’s winter and the tiny alpine village of Pontresina, in the Engadin Valley, is blessed by golden sunshine.

In the Grand Hotel Kronenhof white tulips are pushing porcelain faces towards frescoed ceilings, a careful choreography that cannot fail to distract from the view beyond floor-to-ceiling windwos, but the rocky slopes of the majestic Val Roseg are exposed, patchy and powderless …