June 30, Luzern, Switzerland

This was our last full day of our trip. I was so tired from walking, hiking and climbing... Even after 2 cups of strong coffee, I still couldn't fully open my eyes. But Kai was still energetic, looking forward for a full day event. Following our original plan, took the 1hr train to Luzern. Luzern is beautiful!


We brought series of tickets: boat -> train -> cable cart all the way to the top of Pilatus Mountain.












奶奶式的，永恒不变的微笑 （遗传啊）




close to Alpnachstad port:


After arrived in Alpnachstad, we took the world's steepest cogwheel railway inaugurated on June 4, 1889. Eduard Locher designed the 4,618 meters (15,151 feet) cogwheel railway with a 48% gradient to reach the summit of Pilatus Kulm at 2,132 meters (7,000 feet altitude).







See that red train, that's where we were heading to:


We were on the top of Mnt Pilatus.

But it got too cloudy


HiHi,






Going down, there was Switzerland's longest summer toboggan run (1350 m)





There was also a rope park next to it. Unfortunately, it was all booked. We took some pictures of other people to remind us coming back next time:









Back to Lucerne.
This white building was one of Lucern's middle school. Pretty nice building for a school


The Lion Monument in Lucerne is a giant dying lion carved out of a wall of sandstone rock above a pond at the east end of the medieval town. It was designed as a memorial for the mercenary soldiers from central Switzerland who lost their lives while serving the French king Louis XVI during the French Revolution.

Swans lined up like in the ballet "Swan Lake"

June 29, Going back to Switzerland

Before going to the train station, we dragged all of our luggage all the way to buy the goody Focaccia and Prosciutto. we caught the train from santa margherita ligure to Milan.


Then another train from Milan to Zurich. It passed through Lake Como. From distance, Como was not that impressive... It also passed Lugano, Switzerland which looked really beautiful.


We met a couple from New Zealand. They went to south Italy before heading to Como and they really have light luggage. The woman taught me how to packed light and I said that Alice brought 3 jeans. The husband responded:" oh, so one for morning, one for daytime, one for night?" New Zealand's currency went downhill recently following US dollar. 1: 1.40. We all admitted that we didn't shop much during the trip.

Switzerland is so green:

Close to Lake Lucern

June 28 Cinque Terra

Last year, we bought an calendar, Cinque Terra was in it and Kai fell in love with the place. So, He made sure we have Cinque Terra included in our itenary.
Morning, we eat the hotel's breakfast (all the hotels' breakfast taste similar). Went to local stores, from bread store bought some Focaccia, from meat store some Prosciutto. Where the prosciutto was freshly cut from a leg.




The train to Cinque Terra had no AC, was 20 minutes late. We got off on Monterroso, first town of the five. The town had load of people, many souvenir shops, restaurants, very different from what we read from travel books (quiet, undeveloped, etc.) We headed to the trail leading to Vernazza (2nd village). In Rick Steven's book, this was 90 minutes walking which took me 200 minutes. In the middle of our walking, we found a spot for picnic. Focaccia and prosciutto that we brought in the morning, tasted so delicious!

Monterroso:


Just on the trail





A blue dragonfly:



Vineyard on the trail. Monterroso was getting smaller..

Even Kai looked tired:

Kept on going:


Finally, Vernazza appeared.




Kept on on on..



This view was rewarding






Road sign:



In the village:



Alice wanted to continue walking to the next village: Corniglia which was another Rick Steven's 90 minutes. For me, I had no any extra energy left. So Kai 舍命陪君子，Edward stayed with me to experience Mediterranean sea.

Kai took the camera...

Corniglia:






We didn't have the time to visit the other two villages. Next time, we would choose May or September to come and hoping it would be less crowded.