The Swiss Pass entitles you to a 50% fare reduction on the Brienzer Rothorn Bahn. The implication that I got from the caption on page 88 of the April ’07 issue was that it was free (“included”). We enjoyed it on a Swiss vacation in September ‘06.

• Page 99 of the April issue mentions that the funicular between Lauterbrunnen and Grütschalp has been replaced by an aerial gondola. That is since my visit last September, when it was still out of service. The post bus and cable car, always...

“Saving Private Ryan” and “The Thin Red Line” are about as realistic as war movies get, but I saw a couple of battle films that they couldn’t hold a rifle to. In one, British Tommies in World War I clambered over the top of their muddy trench to face withering German fire that cut many down. In another, Russian troops in World War II made their final assault on Berlin, a destroyed city that looked like the backyard of hell.

It’s unlikely you’ll see this black-and-white grainy footage...

I have been a big fan of United’s nonstop from San Francisco to Paris, but it has been dropped, so this time (Feb. 14 and 26, 2007) we went Air France.

An excellent trip, 11 hours’ flying time. The staff were courteous and attentive. Good food, needless to say better on the westbound trip than on the eastbound. In our coach section, they served free champagne before the meal, wine with the meal, and cognac after. Between meals, the staff made a trolley available in the galleys with...