Lucerne.2

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Despite our best mental efforts to affect the weather, our second day in Lucerne dawned even foggier than yesterday. Although we had planned to go to summit of Mt. Pilatus, we thought better of that plan, since it was still invisible due to the fog. Although it was sunny at the summit, according to the "Pilatus Cam", we would be looking out onto a sea of pea soup fog instead of the incredible vistas that usually abound. But the nice young man at the Tourist Information Office convinced us that we should go up Mt. Rigi instead, where the summit was also sunny and the hiking trails abounded. By the time we took the boat across the lake to Vitznau and the cogwheel train (also socked in so no spectacular views as we ascended) to the summit, the fog had risen to just below where the train let us off. The view of the peaks poking through the sea of fog was striking, if not quite as dramatic as it would have been on a clear day. Alas, the hiking trails were all enshrouded in fog, and even during our 30 minute jaunt down to the cable car stop for the ride down to Weggis on the Lake, we were unable to see more than a few feet to each side of the trail. After the boat ride back to Lucerne, we went back to our room to salvage the day with a glass of wine and some bread and cheese (previously purchased at the Coop market).

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Photos

Boat Ride on Lake Lucerne
On the way to Viznau to take the cog-wheel train to the summit of Mt. Rigi

Summit and Sun!
Cogwheel train station, restaurant/hotel, and satellite tower at summit of Mt. Rigi

Seniors and Satellite Tower
Walking up to the summit, we spotted these senior citizens, briefly resting on their climb. It is not an uncommon sight in Switzerland to see older folks decked out in hiking garb, taking to the trails with poles in hand.

View from the Summit
Just the tops of the distant peaks are visible through the fog--its own kind of dramatic view.

Summit View.2
As the fog rises, it envelopes the slopes below the summit--and the hiking trails we had planned to take!

Lunch on the Summit
The "classic" alpine meal--braut, pommes frites, and beer

Trail to Cable Car Station
We began in the sun, but soon were surrounded by the white stuff.

Cow Music
We heard this herd of cows before we could see them. They really do wear the most delightful sounding bells around their necks during their summers in the open pastures at the higher elevations.

Greetings from the Gloom
On our hike down from the summit, we passed this B & B with an unusual greeter.

Weggis
The main square of the lakeside town of Weggis, where we caught the boat back to Lucerne, after descending from Mt. Rigi.

Ghost Ship
Our paddle wheel powered boat back to Lucerne emerges from the fog...

The Best Way to End the Day
We didn't let the weather stop us from enjoying our own little happy hour on our tiny balcony at the end of our days in Lucerne.