Now that we have crossed the lake we are ready to climb Mount Pilatus the highest peak around Lucerne. We will do so by first riding up on the "steepest cog railway in the world" and descending down a different slope via the suspended gondolas. Pictures taken from such angles tend to be somewhat deformed and misleading but, of course, as one traverses these routes the impulse is to snap away and trying to catch the moment.



The cog railway



The train is composed of compartments each accommodating six to eight people evenly split and facing each other. The following picture is taken looking up into the train





Looking down into the next compartment





As we travel up the mountain the views are simply awsome





Various facilities exist close to the top of the mountain



And when we got to the top we were rewarded not only by the alpine horn players making absolutely marvelous sounds but by the beauty of the Alps seen from the top.




Contributed by Tina Clayre




Contributed by Tina Clayre




Contributed by Tina Clayre








The "real" leader of our group, Bob Drumm, tried to get a crack at the making of sounds through the alpine horns as you can see in the following picture. But if you take a look at the picture after that you will see how well he did by the expression on the face of the tall musician, whose horn he experimented. Now, is that a face of disappointment, or what? And that's not all because, if you take a look at the picture after that one the tall alpine horn player clearly shows what he thinks. Ah well, we can not be winners at everything. In his position as President of General Tours, Bob had a lot to do with the outcome of this tour and it was a winner, for sure.










And why do we show this detail?

Just to highlight the kind of tourist induced confusion that can go on.

When the horn players finished their piece everyone wanted to take pictures with them. The poor men didn't know who was where and how. The result? Tina puts her hand on the shoulder of the player who thinks I am taking his picture, while the player behind Maria thinks that he is being photographed by someone else.

Ah well, it all comes out in the wash......















Looking down while descending Mount Pilatus in the suspended gondolas













Finally back on the ground after a very interesting experience
while waiting for the bus to take us back to the hotel.