Trainspotting in Interlaken.
Hey Craig, was that our train?
A new day, Day 6.
Great service by the waiter at the breakfast room for the second day and with our bags packed, mine including an unused souvenir placement. We checked out of the hotel and walked to Interlaken West Station, being closer to our hotel and not still not knowing what time the buses ran. We planned to changed trains at Interlaken Ost and whilst waiting, we watch the arrival and departure of the DB (Deutsche Bahn) [German Railways] train to Frankfurt.
This reminded me how brilliant the rail system is in Europe. We boarded the
Brünig Express for Lucerne. On the train we met a new married couple, the shiny
wedding bands are always a giveaway. They were Indian of appearance so we asked
where they came from. Sydney of course, they were on their honeymoon and decided
to do Switzerland by Rail and were really enjoying it. Saves arguing about
missing turn-offs in a car.
Interlaken to Lucerne
Though it had the name Express, it turned out not to be so, as the tracks
were being worked on and we caught a bus mid-journey. Our bus ride took us to
over a mountain range to another station were our rail journey to Lucerne
continued. This provided a great opportunity to see some Swiss country roads. If
only there had been a motorad (motorcycle in German) available, the road trip
would have been even better!
At Lucerne, a short walk to our hotel for the next two nights, the Hotel
Hotel Waldstätterhof. About 6 minutes from the Station’s main entrance. As we
passed a McDonald’s, I noticed they had a Fondue burger. This was not to be, as
it was a double whammy for Craig. As mentioned he does not like Fondues but he
also advised me he doesn’t go to McDonald’s. Fondue of any type had escaped me
again.
As was becoming the norm, very friendly reception staff and small
elevators. Our room was huge compared to those we had had previously though
there were two wooden pillars near the middle of the room.
After moving the beds as always, for some reason the Swiss put their twin
beds right next to each other. What was becoming part of the ritual of post
hotel check in, was to move the beds to the opposite walls. This would not
improve the sounds of non-silence during the nights.
On the way to Engleberg.
Some cameras just don't like twilight.
After freshening up, Craig and I split to go ‘solo exploring’. Hotel
Waldstätterhof lent itself perfectly to this as the transport terminus is across
the road from the train.
Lucerne has Switzerland’s largest Transport Museum which was only a bus ride away. I was greeted by a banner in the museum advising there was an English speaking Expatriates’ Expo upstairs. I rode the escalators to investigate and ended up sampling Australian wines with the English importer. I returned to the building’s foyer to explore the Museum. SFR14 for the few hours I had, instead I decided to try and find Craig.
Through the magic of texting, I discovered Craig had gone to Engleberg and
invited me to join him.
A very scenic rail trip into the mountains covered by my
day pass. At Engleberg station I was met by Craig and he explained the town and
its significance as the gateway to Mt Titlis. The cable cars were still visible
in the late afternoon light but not operating. Craig had found in his travels, a
traditional Swiss Restaurant where we ate. Unfortunately I could not find a
fondue on the menu which was becoming an unfulfilled expectation but the
excellent meal I had almost made up for it.
As we were leaving the restaurant, I am sure I saw a group of people
sitting around a fondue. There was a woman in the group who looked as I had
imagined Heidi to be. Had we received two of our goals? As we had to get back to
the railway station for our train, there was not enough time to find out.
The conductor on the train back to Lucerne was a treat. A beautiful dark
haired Swiss woman with a wonderful sense of humour and as I was discovering as
with most Swiss, great English.
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