All Europe rail is great. In Switzerland, it's so smooth because they weld the tracks together and use concrete ties.
Have you ever crossed into Switzerland at Domodosola? Last time, we shared a car with an American brother and sister who were very young. First thing the border guard said, do you have the marijuana? I started laughing and so did he. Then they searched EVERY crevice of his and his sister's backpacks, pockets you name it. We got to the station where we were to transfer to a regional train and he asks me if I'm Italian and I say no, Portuguese and the other guard goes, no they're Americans. Since it was time for transfer, we were in a hurry and my wife kept saying, don't forget your cane. I think they thought something was hidden in it but they carried our bags to the next train with no hassles. That's like the third time we or some other American got the third degree at Domodosola.
I wish our guards were so thorough.
There are very few places you can't get to via rail in Europe. It's cool riding the TGV going over 170MPH!
I agree. Instead of going home for a twoo week break, I got the client to pay to have my wife come over from The States and pay all expenses except for meals. We took day trips all over the Alps, including foing to the town of Interlochen was really neat train ride. You go through a mountain with the rail line in a corkscrew configuration. At one minute you're looking down a few thousand feet at a Church on your right, and after 10 minutes in darkness, you're at the same level as the SAME Church on your left. Absolutely amazing. We road the World's steepest cog-rail train up the side of Mt. Titlis, had lunch with many beers, and took the cable car down the other side. My wife and I agree this was ab-so-lutley our best vacation.