Sunday Aug 13, 2006
The steamer ride was a romantic boat trip along the shores of Lake Luzern and we were enjoying the breathtaking beauty of nature as the steamer was moving ahead from one stop to another. The calm Luzern lake at the foot of stunning green mountains with peaks covered with clouds and greenery all around and alpine range covered with snow and cloud at far; it was like I had moved to another world of dreams far away from all the worries and tension. In spite of chilly wind we couldn’t control ourselves from taking photographs of those beautiful scenes of nature. So, we were continuously moving in and out and taking snaps.
At the center of the steamer inside, the machineries of steamer were left open for public display. We could see a lever pushing another and thus operating on paddles. We could even see the paddles of the steamer that it was using to push the lake water behind and thus making its way ahead. It was equivalent to 800 personnel. We reached Alpnachstad little before noon.
We followed the trails of fellow passengers and reached cogwheel railway station. The next train was scheduled at 12:10. Little before 12:10 we were allowed to board the train. It was the world’s steepest cogwheel railway. Unlike normal platform, here the platform was not straight. We had to climb stairs to board the train.
As we were moving toward our destination we were amazed by the steepness of the path. It was like we were climbing mountain straight upwards. It was a great and a unique experience to be on world’s famous railway. We were spell-bound by the unique and fascinating mountainous landscape of central Switzerland. But we were more interested in unique railway track this time than the natural beauties. We again took countless snaps of unspoiled nature and railway track. We didn’t know when 30 mins passed and by the time we reached Pilatus Kulm it was 12:40.
The place was 7000 ft above the sea level and we could feel the difference in weather as soon as we came out of the train. It was too windy and foggy and snowing. The place was famous for 360% view of Switzerland but we were not even able to see any thing that was 2-3 feet away from us, because of fog. We were mentally prepared for this. Even though we were not able to appreciate the view of Switzerland, the place and the weather at that time had its own beauty. It was fun to be there in that weather. It was difficult to face high speed wind and snow. We strolled outside for a while and then went inside the building.
Inside the building there was information center and 2-3 shops for purchasing small gift items. On first and second floor, there were restaurants. World’s longest playable alphorn (40 feet) was set up along the stair-case. We then went to restaurant on first floor to have our lunch. We ordered french-fries and tomato soup for us. We got two bowls of soup with bread and two bowls of french-fries, which were too large for us to finish.
After lunch we packed ourselves again for second round of walking outside in snow and wind. This time we went a little high. The high speed wind was directly hitting us on our face as there were no obstacles there to block the wind. We started feeling as if we would also start floating with the wind. We couldn’t withstand the snow and wind for too long and came back inside the building soon after that.
We enquired about the cableway car and found that the next was about to leave in another 20 mins. We didn’t want to leave the place but if we miss that one, we would have to wait another one and a half hour. So, we decided to leave by the next cableway car. It was scheduled to leave by 2:15 PM and around 5 min before the scheduled time we went to get in line. There we were told that the weather is bad and due to heavy wind the operator couldn’t continue with 15-20 people. So, we waited for more people to come and our departure was delayed by 5 mins. The operator boarded around 40 people in that car and we started for Frakmuntegg. The trip in that aerial cableway over steep chasms was full of excitement. Just imagine being in a small cableway car 7000ft above sea level with no piece of land anywhere near us to bank upon. The operator stopped the car in between around 2-3 times and we could feel that the car was swinging because of strong wind outside. We all were mesmerized by the height, the view downward and the strong wind outside that we were standing still, holding the support tightly. At one point of time I thought of asking operator how safe the cableway is but then thought of not making fool of me.
We reached Frakmuntegg after 10 mins and then took gondola for our next stop Kriens. This was 30 mins ride. Due to bad weather the gondolas were already shaking badly and as soon as we boarded the same PP started jumping inside the gondola. I was already scared with the swings of the gondola and PP was even more scaring me with his movements. He was not ready to settle in a single position. So, we had a little fight there; the only bad thing that happened during our trip. But at least he settled after that fight and we spent the remaining journey watching trees, trekking trails, mountains and Luzern city at distance.
From Kriens we took 15 mins bus ride by public transport and were back in Luzern before 4 PM. After Luzern our next stop was Interlaken. So, we checked time table for next Golden Pass Express train to Interlaken. Golden Express train is one of the special train famous for sight seeing. These special trains follow a different routes and gives a real nice view of the beauty of nature, one of the thing for which Switzerland is famous for. The next train was scheduled at 4:55 PM. We then unlocked our luggage, bought Swiss chocolates again, and then boarded our train for Interlaken. The Golden Pass Express being the sight seeing train took the path along the lakes and mountains and we spent rest of our time relaxing amid nature full of mountains and greenery.
By the time we reached Interlaken it was 6:50PM.
Mt Pilatus
The trip to Mt Pilatus and then back to Luzern is called golden round trip. Our plan was to travel by lake steamer from Luzern to Alpnachstad and then with the world’s steepest cogwheel railway to Pilatus Kulm (7000 ft). While coming back we were planning to take a ride in aerial cableway and panorama gondolas that would take us down to Kriens for the bus back to Luzern. We were sure our day excursion to Mt Pilatus would simply be an exceptional experience.The steamer ride was a romantic boat trip along the shores of Lake Luzern and we were enjoying the breathtaking beauty of nature as the steamer was moving ahead from one stop to another. The calm Luzern lake at the foot of stunning green mountains with peaks covered with clouds and greenery all around and alpine range covered with snow and cloud at far; it was like I had moved to another world of dreams far away from all the worries and tension. In spite of chilly wind we couldn’t control ourselves from taking photographs of those beautiful scenes of nature. So, we were continuously moving in and out and taking snaps.
At the center of the steamer inside, the machineries of steamer were left open for public display. We could see a lever pushing another and thus operating on paddles. We could even see the paddles of the steamer that it was using to push the lake water behind and thus making its way ahead. It was equivalent to 800 personnel. We reached Alpnachstad little before noon.
We followed the trails of fellow passengers and reached cogwheel railway station. The next train was scheduled at 12:10. Little before 12:10 we were allowed to board the train. It was the world’s steepest cogwheel railway. Unlike normal platform, here the platform was not straight. We had to climb stairs to board the train.
As we were moving toward our destination we were amazed by the steepness of the path. It was like we were climbing mountain straight upwards. It was a great and a unique experience to be on world’s famous railway. We were spell-bound by the unique and fascinating mountainous landscape of central Switzerland. But we were more interested in unique railway track this time than the natural beauties. We again took countless snaps of unspoiled nature and railway track. We didn’t know when 30 mins passed and by the time we reached Pilatus Kulm it was 12:40.
The place was 7000 ft above the sea level and we could feel the difference in weather as soon as we came out of the train. It was too windy and foggy and snowing. The place was famous for 360% view of Switzerland but we were not even able to see any thing that was 2-3 feet away from us, because of fog. We were mentally prepared for this. Even though we were not able to appreciate the view of Switzerland, the place and the weather at that time had its own beauty. It was fun to be there in that weather. It was difficult to face high speed wind and snow. We strolled outside for a while and then went inside the building.
Inside the building there was information center and 2-3 shops for purchasing small gift items. On first and second floor, there were restaurants. World’s longest playable alphorn (40 feet) was set up along the stair-case. We then went to restaurant on first floor to have our lunch. We ordered french-fries and tomato soup for us. We got two bowls of soup with bread and two bowls of french-fries, which were too large for us to finish.
After lunch we packed ourselves again for second round of walking outside in snow and wind. This time we went a little high. The high speed wind was directly hitting us on our face as there were no obstacles there to block the wind. We started feeling as if we would also start floating with the wind. We couldn’t withstand the snow and wind for too long and came back inside the building soon after that.
We enquired about the cableway car and found that the next was about to leave in another 20 mins. We didn’t want to leave the place but if we miss that one, we would have to wait another one and a half hour. So, we decided to leave by the next cableway car. It was scheduled to leave by 2:15 PM and around 5 min before the scheduled time we went to get in line. There we were told that the weather is bad and due to heavy wind the operator couldn’t continue with 15-20 people. So, we waited for more people to come and our departure was delayed by 5 mins. The operator boarded around 40 people in that car and we started for Frakmuntegg. The trip in that aerial cableway over steep chasms was full of excitement. Just imagine being in a small cableway car 7000ft above sea level with no piece of land anywhere near us to bank upon. The operator stopped the car in between around 2-3 times and we could feel that the car was swinging because of strong wind outside. We all were mesmerized by the height, the view downward and the strong wind outside that we were standing still, holding the support tightly. At one point of time I thought of asking operator how safe the cableway is but then thought of not making fool of me.
We reached Frakmuntegg after 10 mins and then took gondola for our next stop Kriens. This was 30 mins ride. Due to bad weather the gondolas were already shaking badly and as soon as we boarded the same PP started jumping inside the gondola. I was already scared with the swings of the gondola and PP was even more scaring me with his movements. He was not ready to settle in a single position. So, we had a little fight there; the only bad thing that happened during our trip. But at least he settled after that fight and we spent the remaining journey watching trees, trekking trails, mountains and Luzern city at distance.
From Kriens we took 15 mins bus ride by public transport and were back in Luzern before 4 PM. After Luzern our next stop was Interlaken. So, we checked time table for next Golden Pass Express train to Interlaken. Golden Express train is one of the special train famous for sight seeing. These special trains follow a different routes and gives a real nice view of the beauty of nature, one of the thing for which Switzerland is famous for. The next train was scheduled at 4:55 PM. We then unlocked our luggage, bought Swiss chocolates again, and then boarded our train for Interlaken. The Golden Pass Express being the sight seeing train took the path along the lakes and mountains and we spent rest of our time relaxing amid nature full of mountains and greenery.
By the time we reached Interlaken it was 6:50PM.
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