While Not Working

Roger stared resolutely at the mountain, his back to the widening view as the gondola travelled higher into the mountains above Lucerne.  "Warn me if you're going to move," he said. "I don't like wobbles." We were on our way to the top of Mt Titlus, at 3000+ m only a little lower than Jungfrau, and all accessible by gondola. No fiddling around with tunnels here! For those averse to heights this was not ideal. A teaser of things to come. The day started with breakfast provided by the Hotel Alpha after a night when even double glazed windows couldn't mute the raucous racket of Lucerne's Saturday night. An hour's train ride took us to Engelbert and the foot of Mt Titlus. The sun shone and Switzerland presented itself with theme-park perfection. As we walked to the gondola brightly coloured hang gliders drifted in lazy circles above our heads. Up we went, over meadows with a cowbell accompaniment.  Up we went, past tall pine forests and suspended alp...

Lucerne lay 1.5 hours by scenic train from Interlaken, past alpine lakes and over Brunig-Haseliberg pass. One of us wanted to catch the ferry to Brienz, and then the train. The other wanted the full 1.5 hours in a panoramic rail car. After much consultation with the Eurail app we did both, thus ensuring we took the longest route possible to Lucerne with a good deal of doubling back and maximum chances of stunning scenery should the weather come to the party. The weather had not received the party invitation by the time we left, but that was offset by the discovery that the ferry was a paddle steamer similar to our ride on the Rhine but bigger. This one had a viewing well in the middle where one could, if one desired, sit and watch the gleaming pistons turn.  Once again a sneaky diesel engine provided power to the paddles and steam blew the whistle. This time around the surrounding mountains echoed the whistle back to us, which I found most satisfying. On to the boat we went, both o...