Once again, we got up early as we had planned this day carefully. After a simple but unbelievably delicious breakfast by Hotel Rothaus, we embarked on our day-trip to Mount Titlis. We took a train to the town of Engelberg, a relatively humble village that sits in a quiet, idyllic valley surrounded by green lush.
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From Engelberg Train Station, it's about a 10-minute walk to the Titlis Rotair Station. From there, it is a 4-stage cable car journey. The cable cars came painted with the flags of the world. This cable car we took ascended to Gerschnialp (1300m). In the same cable car, we proceeded to Trubsee (1800m), gliding over cow pastures. After that, we transferred to a large gondola, headed to Stand (2450m). From Stand, we boarded the rotair, the first rotating gondola in the world, for the passage over the dazzling Titlis Glacier.
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From Engelberg Train Station, it's about a 10-minute walk to the Titlis Rotair Station. From there, it is a 4-stage cable car journey. The cable cars came painted with the flags of the world. This cable car we took ascended to Gerschnialp (1300m). In the same cable car, we proceeded to Trubsee (1800m), gliding over cow pastures. After that, we transferred to a large gondola, headed to Stand (2450m). From Stand, we boarded the rotair, the first rotating gondola in the world, for the passage over the dazzling Titlis Glacier.
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From the Titlis Station (3020m), we headed outdoors. We were blessed with good and clear weather that day, and hence photo-taking was great! We were able to see snow-capped mountains from miles and miles away. We even took the Ice Flyer (ski lift), an unforgettable experience with your feet dangling in the air over the snow. I suppose no trip to Switzerland is complete without a trip to a snow mountain. I had a friend who was in Switzerland 2 weeks prior to my trip, and she visited Mount Pilatus in Lucerne, but it's altitude was not high enough for snow outside winter, but it was her personal preference but she did see some interesting mountain goats perched on the rocky mountain though haha.
From the Titlis Station (3020m), we headed outdoors. We were blessed with good and clear weather that day, and hence photo-taking was great! We were able to see snow-capped mountains from miles and miles away. We even took the Ice Flyer (ski lift), an unforgettable experience with your feet dangling in the air over the snow. I suppose no trip to Switzerland is complete without a trip to a snow mountain. I had a friend who was in Switzerland 2 weeks prior to my trip, and she visited Mount Pilatus in Lucerne, but it's altitude was not high enough for snow outside winter, but it was her personal preference but she did see some interesting mountain goats perched on the rocky mountain though haha.
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After about an hour or so, it was almost lunch time, so we headed down ( through the long 4-stage journey again). We missed our train in Engelberg in the nick of time, and so we bought lunch in Migros in Engelberg and walked around the town. I did buy some souvenirs for my mother and sisters in Engelberg, so i guess the walk was not wasted.
After about an hour or so, it was almost lunch time, so we headed down ( through the long 4-stage journey again). We missed our train in Engelberg in the nick of time, and so we bought lunch in Migros in Engelberg and walked around the town. I did buy some souvenirs for my mother and sisters in Engelberg, so i guess the walk was not wasted.
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After getting back to Lucerne and taking off our winter gears in the hotel, we visited the Jesuitenkirche (Jesus Church) near our hotel. Built sometime between 1666-1669, it is the largest baroque building in Switzerland and boasts a breath-taking interior with stucco decoration as well.
After getting back to Lucerne and taking off our winter gears in the hotel, we visited the Jesuitenkirche (Jesus Church) near our hotel. Built sometime between 1666-1669, it is the largest baroque building in Switzerland and boasts a breath-taking interior with stucco decoration as well.
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Later we went back to the bus station and took a 5-minute trolley bus journey to Lowendenkmal ( Lion Monument). This monument was carved in 1821, to commemorate the Swiss Guards who fell protecting the French King Louis XVI during the storming of the Tuileries in 1792. Even though it was just a huge stone carving, this place evoked the most emotion in me throughout the journey. You actually feel the passion and sadness being in that place, i couldn't really put the emotion into words, but to put it briefly, i actually felt a lump in the throat looking at it.
Later we went back to the bus station and took a 5-minute trolley bus journey to Lowendenkmal ( Lion Monument). This monument was carved in 1821, to commemorate the Swiss Guards who fell protecting the French King Louis XVI during the storming of the Tuileries in 1792. Even though it was just a huge stone carving, this place evoked the most emotion in me throughout the journey. You actually feel the passion and sadness being in that place, i couldn't really put the emotion into words, but to put it briefly, i actually felt a lump in the throat looking at it.
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Just right next door is the Gletschergarten (Glacier Garden) , an excavation site of geological and paleontological interest with fossils and glaciers. There was a very impressive Hall of Mirrors within, and we had fun getting through the maze. We were alone in the maze, and at times were worried we might see something we shouldn't in the mirrors, i guess watching too many horror flicks is getting to me. There were some very cute funny mirrors outside, and we tried those as well!
Just right next door is the Gletschergarten (Glacier Garden) , an excavation site of geological and paleontological interest with fossils and glaciers. There was a very impressive Hall of Mirrors within, and we had fun getting through the maze. We were alone in the maze, and at times were worried we might see something we shouldn't in the mirrors, i guess watching too many horror flicks is getting to me. There were some very cute funny mirrors outside, and we tried those as well!
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On our walk back to the hotel, we stopped by in Hofkirche, the site of Lucerne's first monastery. It is actually a part Romanesque, part Renaissance church....but nothing special, really...at least not for me.
On our walk back to the hotel, we stopped by in Hofkirche, the site of Lucerne's first monastery. It is actually a part Romanesque, part Renaissance church....but nothing special, really...at least not for me.
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We also went into a chocolate shop and bought a chunk of chocolate to be enjoyed as supper back in the hotel. Just near our hotel, we went to have dinner in Restaurant Cheung, a Chinese restaurant run by a Hong Kong couple. The Chinese food there was actually better than i imagined, so i was elated to be tasting my first bowl of Chinese noodle soup in a week ( i'm such a sucker for Chinese soups). With our bellies filled, we hurried back to rest after a long day out.
We also went into a chocolate shop and bought a chunk of chocolate to be enjoyed as supper back in the hotel. Just near our hotel, we went to have dinner in Restaurant Cheung, a Chinese restaurant run by a Hong Kong couple. The Chinese food there was actually better than i imagined, so i was elated to be tasting my first bowl of Chinese noodle soup in a week ( i'm such a sucker for Chinese soups). With our bellies filled, we hurried back to rest after a long day out.
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