Lucerne

Friday 16th September

We have some catching up to do as we have had problems with wifi availability and it is very expensive in some places. We will have to see how we go from here, we only have this for 24 hours so we will make use of it and go back to where we left you.

Overlooking the beautiful city of Lucerne there is a 7,000ft mountain called Pilatus and we were going right to the top. We took a bus to the base of the mountain and then rode in four person gondolas for about 30 minutes which took us half way up the mountain. Here we transferred to a much larger gondola that carried about 40 people and took us in a very steep ascent right to the top. This trip is cancelled more than it is run because of inclement weather. We were blessed very sunny weather and had a clear view to the bottom. As we were ascending on the gondola we could hear the sounds of the bells that the cows wear around their necks to identify their locations and saw several chalets en route as we skimmed through and above the trees. It was a very relaxing experience. At the top of the mountain there were two hotels, one of which was used in the James Bond film Goldfinger. Although the temperature at the bottom was 24C, at the top it was only 10c, but quite pleasant in the sun. The view was absolutely stupendous and you could see the snow capped Alps disappearing further into Switzerland. While we were there we saw and heard a local gentleman playing the Swiss horn right on the top of the peak. This horn is approximately 3 a 4 metres long and the sound echoed all around the mountain. There Is a friendly dragon that lives on top of the mountain. Only one man has seen it and he died. Legend has it that if the dragon were to die or leave, then Mt. Pilates would collapse and Lucerne would be no more. As Lucerne has been there for 700 years, things seem to be working out! We saw mountain goats and deer clambering around on the extremely steep slopes – how they did so astounded me. On our return trip we came down on a cog wheel train, the steepest one in the world and it took 40 minutes to get to the bottom. It was quite an exhilarating outing!!

There is a large fresh water lake around Lucerne at the base of the mountain. It is up to 700 ft deep and legend has it that Pontius Pilate was buried there so he would have sufficient water to wash the stains off his hands. We caught a boat and toured the lake (all that fresh water makes its way eventually out through the Rhine). Many people in Lucerne build their houses facing the lake because of the wonderful views. This is a town that many famous people come to for their holidays because of its natural beauty. Nature has excelled itself in this area!!

The town centre of Lucerne is quite medieval in its layout with many original buildings adding to it’s image. Switzerland is divided into 23 cantons (equivalent to our states) each with their own Mayor and they govern themselves on local issues but come together on issues of state. A system that has worked for over 700 years. In the afternoon we went shopping then it was back to the hotel to pack and prepare for an early start next day.