I woke up that morning feeling a little better, but still heavy in the head and sniffling like a bunny in the cold. This did not deter me from going ahead with that day's adventure line-up.
It began with a horse-drawn carriage ride up the mountains to visit a rural community. The local farmers took us on a delightful countryside tour after which, homemade snacks and drinks were served in a 17th-century barn. It was like being a part of a scene from a fairy tale book.
But the highlight of the day was the climb up the summit of Mount Pilatus, one of Switzerland’s most famous mountains. It was said to be named after Pontius Pilate, who, according to legend, was buried there. Others say it was named after a large man named Pilate because the mountain looked like him lying down with his big belly protruding to the skies. Another legend boasts of a huge dragon who used to live there and had been seen flying from cave to cave. But the most likely explanation is the Latin word pilaetus which means “cloud-covered,” for the high mountains appear to be touching the clouds.
We drove to the valley station in Kriens to board the gondolas that glided us up to the first section of the mountain in Fräkmüntegg. The ride took about 20 minutes and it lived up to its promise of being panoramic. It provided us with a spectacular bird's eye view of the mountains of Central Switzerland and beautiful Lake Lucerne, where we sailed the day before. Apparently, you could also go on a "fondue gondola ride," wherein you could enjoy a feast of Giswil cheese, a regional favourite, and white wine on your way up. But it was a little too early for all of that.
We had a short stopover at the Fräkmüntegg summit terminus, enough time for a drink, a washroom break, and a few minutes to admire the breathtaking mountainscape and check out the various activities you could embark on while there – from hiking and traversing the suspension rope park in the summer, to tobogganing in the winter.
The place was busy. Families with young children were having fun at the playground, while some were enjoying brunch at the restaurants (there were a number of restaurants to choose from, from an elegant full-service to Swiss chalet style dining, and from barbecue grills with patios to cafeteria and self-service style) or picnicking at the wooden tables under the shade of trees. Youngsters were having the time of their lives as they mounted rope courses, monkey trees, and cable jumps for a good dose of adrenaline.
We had our own adrenaline rush as well. We rode the aerial cableway called “The Dragon Ride” that took around five minutes to carry us from the station at Fräkmüntegg up to Pilatus Kulm at an altitude of 2,132 meters. The cockpit-like cabin structure had floor-to-ceiling windows and it gave us the feeling that we were flying among the clouds. It was a very steep climb and the ride generated both loud giggles from the thrill-seekers and restrained shrieks from those who feared heights.
At the summit, we got a sweeping panoramic delight of over 70 peaks and five lakes. In good weather, the unique views of the Alps and Central Switzerland's lakeland landscape are simply stunning. At that time though, it was a bit foggy, but it sure created an atmosphere of danger and mystery.
We traipsed along the narrow walkways up and down the area. My husband surveyed the different vantage points and saw some pretty interesting arrows pointing to several hiking trails that varied in length and difficulty, from leisurely to alpine. He wanted to go on the shortest one which would take approximately 45 minutes, but since we didn’t have the whole day at the summit, he had to forego this and just settle for a partial hike. There were easy trails perfect for families with kids, so we just followed those paths.
Later on, our Tour Director led us to the cogwheel railway, said to be the world’s steepest (at a 48-degree incline) and one of the oldest (it opened in 1889). As we slid down the mountain in the rickety wooden cars, we passed through a magnificent postcard view of lush green meadows carpeted with Alpine flowers and dotted with sparkling mountain streams and fascinating rock faces. I focused on the beautiful scenery and entertained myself by taking pictures and watching the grazing Alpine cows. From their necks hung those iconic cowbells whose melodic “ding-dong” sounds surprisingly blended well with their loud but almost-dignified belching.
When we reached the Alpnachstad station on the other side of the mountain’s base, we were greeted by the sight of the shimmering waters of Lake Lucerne. My husband and I posed for a picture with the mountain and the train station in the background then we took a walk around the area.
We joined some of our tour mates in exploring the lakeside on the other side of the street. There is a small park right by the pier where the boats from Lucerne dock. There is also a tree-lined pathway facing the mountain where one can see charming little Swiss chalets nestled on the mountainside.
That evening, we had a special group dinner at a very trendy and eclectic-themed restaurant, where our Tour Director handed out awards to repeat customers from our group. There were a handful of them who had traveled with this company for the past few summers. In gratitude for their loyal patronage, they were presented with personalized glass memorabilia, along with some discount cards. Very nice!
I got plenty of rest that night and by the next day, I was almost back to my normal self, so I was really happy. I was also thankful that I didn’t get anybody sick. It seemed like the virus left our group as we left Switzerland.
From Lucerne, we drove through Basel before crossing the Rhine to France. We traveled across the fertile fields of Burgundy and Champagne to Paris and saw lots and lots of bright yellow sunflowers dotting the landscape. They were so pretty!
This lovely pastoral scenery was a sharp contrast to the industrial terrain I saw in Calais right after we crossed the English Channel to France at the beginning of the tour. Calais is a port city and was characterized by harbours, piers, and fishing towns, and large warehouse supermarkets; whereas the Burgundy Region, being the one of France’s main wine producing areas, is filled with acres upon acres of vineyards that grow mostly Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. And of course, the Champagne Region is best known for the sparkling white that exclusively bears its name. Apart from vineyards, forests also abound. And as you may have guessed, with a scenery as captivating as this, it's the kind of road trip where you don't fall asleep!
Photo Credits:
Liridon (Wikepedia), Friedrich-Karl Mohr (Wikipedia), switzerland-tours.ch, holidaystoswitzerland.com, thegoodlifefrance.com, pilatus.ch, viator.com, swissfamilyfun.com. swiss-panorama.gallery
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