Lucerne: Looming over this city is a mountain known as Pilatus, atop which at roughly 7000 ft. there are two hotels, restaurants, etc. To get there one takes either an aerial tram or a cog railway of such steepness that the cars are built to keep passengers level while the car goes up the mountain at an almost 45 degree angle.
It is supposed to be the steepest cog railway in the world. Our guide, a train buff, says the only steeper conveyances are funiculars, pulled by cables. I believe it. The ride up that mountain is frankly scary it's so steep. Meanwhile Swiss cattle contentedly graze to within a few hundred feet of the summit. Why they don't fall off the mountain I cannot fathom.
We came to the base of the mountain at Alpnachstad by lake ship, this one not a steamer. These lake ships run regular schedules whereby many stops are served by ships hourly - like buses.
The weather is cooler today, somewhat overcast and had rained before we set out. The views up top were amazing. On a clear day, which we didn't have, you can see 72 peaks from the summit.
After an hour or so at the summit we headed down on the aerial trams, a larger one comes down the first long reach, and then a smaller one like that at Disneyland brings us down the long second reach. These were also beautiful rides, and surprisingly unfrightening, not sure why. A city bus brought us the final few miles back to the hotel.
There is an underground mall by the Lucerne train station that must be below lake water level as the lake is within 100 yards of it. We've found things we like there, including a good bakery. Tomorrow we go to Bern to ride a steam tram and see the bears.
