Train Rides in Italy

Mandy monkey and Leo lion were travelling to Europe for holidays. They were super excited as they boarded the plane to Zurich International Airport, Switzerland.

- Ashima Kaushik

"We are really on top of the world, above the clouds," said Mandy looking out of the plane window. But Leo kept quiet as he was scared of flying in the airplane. He slept most of the time during the flight. The plane landed right on time and a fancy shuttle bus picked them up from the airport and dropped them at their hotel in Zurich.

"Let's stick to the buses and train rides," said Leo staring at the breakfast table wondering what to eat first. There was a giant loaf of bread and all kinds of cheese and Swiss chocolates. Both ate like never before.

Putting on their backpacks, hats and sunglasses, they explored the old town. Finally, they reached the railway station and decided to buy hop-on-hop-off passes with which they could just hop on and off any train at any station in Europe. They decided to go to Italy first.

Mandy stared at the map he just bought and then looked at the train schedule.

"Looks like we missed the train to Venice," he said. They wanted to go to Venice, the city of canals and do boat rides for days. Venice had beautiful bridges and walkways, which they had seen in the movies. The city was in fact a group of small islands.

Leo made a sad face. "Let's get into that train," he pointed at the approaching train and rushed in without giving Mandy any time to think.

This train was going all the way to Rome, the capital of Italy. "What shall we do in Rome?" asked Leo taking pictures of them sitting in the train.

"There is lots to do in Rome we will go to the Colosseum-the arena where gladiator fights happened!" said Mandy looking out of the wide windows.

The sceneries from the moving train were breathtaking.

They went past a huge glittering lake and through a tunnel.