Beautiful Lucerne

Switzerland's is expensive. But look on the bright side: If it weren't, it would be overrun with tourists. Imagine beautiful Lucerne with prices at eastern European levels: the place would be pillaged. Let's count our blessings and live with the fact that Switzerland's is, for most of us, a bit of a splurge-keeping in mind, however, that lakeside strolls, mountain walks, and the glorious scenery all cost CHF 00.

Since this is as good a year as any to splurge, we've chosen Lucerne as the first stop in our 2006 series of favorite destination updates. We begin with sights, events, and activities:

Old Town: Narrow lanes, old houses, and squares. Visit the Collegiate Church, an important Renaissance building, and the Baroque Jesuit Church

Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge): Medieval-style, covered, pedestrian bridge from 1333

Transportation Museum: Rail transport, aeronautics, navigation, and "Cosmorama." Great collection of ship models: sailing ships, container ships, ocean liners, and full-sized life boats. "Cosmorama" includes Mercury Space Capsule, lunar rocks, and multimedia show on history of space flight. Lidostrasse 5, (reached in 10 minutes by #2 bus from the train station), www.verkehrshaus.ch

Richard Wagner Museum: Here, in Haus Tribschen, where Wagner lived from 1866 to 1872 with Cosima von Bülow, daughter of Franz Liszt, Wagner wrote Die Meistersinger. (Wagnerweg 27, www.richard-wagner-museum)