We all took off the Ascend Mount Pilatus by cog-wheel railway, and we saw some stunning views of the Swiss Alps and it was an exceptional experience. We travelled the worlds steepest cogwheel railway to the top (gradient 48%). Mt Pilatus is 7000 feet  high (2138m). There are 73 alpine summits and countless lakes. The photos will definitely not do it justice, it was more spectacular than Hitler’s “Eagles Nest’ in Austria. We descended in a cable car carrying 40 passengers halfway down the mountain, and then transferring to 4 seat gondolas.  Just being surrounded by the alpine flowers, hearing the birds, and most of all the hearing the cow bells as they grazed, and we travel down some spectacular rock faces was simply beautiful. We got back to Lucerne city to see the Lion monument, well….to me it was a very sad an emotional monument, it was carved in place in 1820 and it took 1 year to complete. It is a commemorative monument to all the soldiers that died in the Revolution era. A very moving and sad monument let the photo tell the story!

Later in the afternoon we had a chance to meet some Swiss local farmers that took us on a delightful countryside tour in a horse-drawn carriage. We enjoyed the stunning scenery as we trotted around a typical rural community, everything absolutely organically grown, lost in time, so pretty, so crisp so fresh, en route we stopped at a local farm where we enjoyed a few drinks and lunch, fresh ham/salami, and alpine cheese. The cows are quite significant to the Swiss, the celebrate the cow that produces the most milk in a season. The farmers are limited to 30 cows each, and they are highly subsidized by the government. Well, all I want to do, is get on my own horse back, and ride up those luscious green hills with my paintbrush and canvas in a backpack……I LOVE SWITZERLAND!!! I always knew I would….give me Austria, South of France, Swiss any day…Greece, Italy…….mmnnn won’t be rushing back…well that’s only my opinion!

Tonight we had a free dine around evening for meals, and hopefully an early night so we can get ready for our LAST leg – Paris, Yes the tour is coming to an end fast……Home strech!