TOUR 06 – Best of Europe - Expat Explore Travel – 22 Days – THU, 18 AUG 2022 – Day 6

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THU, 18 AUG 2022 – Day 6: Lucerne: Optional Free Day - Today you’ll have a free day to enjoy the Lucerne region. Renowned as one of Switzerland's most beautiful cities, Lucerne is a place you'll definitely want to have your camera at the ready for! All the ingredients for the quintessentially picturesque Swiss experience are here - a cobalt lake and well-preserved old town complete with waterfront promenades, covered bridges and perfect plazas are surrounded by the natural skyscrapers of the Swiss Alps. It's no wonder that Goethe, Queen Victoria and Wagner savoured the stunning views that Lucerne has to offer. There's charm and grace around every corner, but it's not all about history - there's certainly enough of a pulse here to keep things current, with carnivals, concerts and exhibitions aplenty. Overnight – Hotel Holiday Inn Luzern - Kriens

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Photos

Mount Pilatus, Switzerland
The Pilatus Railway Is the Steepest Rack Railway in the World, with a Maximum Gradient of 48% and an Average Gradient of 35% - Note the Cog Railway Car on the Stone Retaining Wall

Mount Pilatus, Switzerland
Opened 4 June 1889 (Steam Operation) and Reopened 15 May 1937 (After Electrification)

Mount Pilatus, Switzerland
Length of railway line - 4,618 Meters or 2.87 Miles
Difference in Altitude - 1,635 meters or 5364 Feet
Speed - Ascent 9 – 12 km/h or 5.6 - 7.4 mph
Speed - Descent max. 9 km/h or 5.6 mph

Mount Pilatus, Switzerland
Cogs Are Necessary Because the Incline Is Too Steep for Weight Alone to Provide Sufficient Traction as in Traditional Rail Transportation

Mount Pilatus, Switzerland
Full Services, Including a Hotel, Are Available at the Top of the Mount Pilatus

Mount Pilatus, Switzerland
A Tunnel Extends Out from the Visitor Center to Provide Panoramas – Not So Spectacular the Day of Our Visit

Mount Pilatus, Switzerland
The (Barely Visible) Aerial Cableway “Dragon Ride” Is the First of Three Cableways to Return to Lucerne and Has a Cockpit-Like Cabin with Windows that Extend to the Floor to Give a "Sensation of Flying"

Mount Pilatus, Switzerland
Descent through the Fog Is Somewhat Eerie