March 28, 2017 - Train trip to Mt Rigi in central Switzerland & meeting our son Matt there!

On Tuesday Rick and I bought day passes with the Swiss train system and we went to Mt Rigi in central Switzerland. Day passes allow you to travel anywhere in Switzerland on buses, trains and boats all day!

On the train to Arth Goldau

Waiting for the Rigi cogwheel train in Goldau. Mt. Rigi is with the snow in the background. 

Some views from the Rigibahn cogwheel train going up. 

Still going up! 

So our son Matthew was chaparoning is high school students from Pacifica Christian High School in Santa Monica on a European trip. They were in Switzerland this day and they also went up to Rigi. The class was waiting for their train down when our train arrived on top. Rick wore his Pacifica Christian T-shirt, which really surprised some kids who were not expecting it! 

Matt and Gail on Mt Rigi

Panoramic view above the Rigi train station. 

It's amazing how the trains come up so high! 

A view of Mt Pilatus in the background. 

Me in the Alps!

We are really Swiss now! 

It really was warm up there! 

There are two trains that go up to Rigi - one on each side of the mountain. We went back down on the other side to the town of Vitznau. Unfortunately I didn't have a seat right by the window. It was a very steep descent - glad those cogwheels held! We also made the trip probably no faster than 10 mph. 

Still coming down

From Vitznau we walked just a few steps to the lake where we borded a boat to Luzern. Transportation connections are so easy! Here is the view as the boat pulled away from Vitznau. 

A little further from Vitznau.

Enjoying a couple of hours in Luzern. We ran into some of Matt's students there too. The class did the same boat trip after Rigi that we did! 

At our hotel in Vitznau after a long day. We fortunately bought something to eat at the train station grocery store in Luzern before taking the train/bus back to Vitznau. The weather was perfect - absolutely no wind, and we enjoyed our dinner on our terrace. 

Another view from our hotel that evening. 

Later in the evening Rick and I took a walk. I saw this town map, and couldn't help but wonder what the T-shirt symbol was in the upper middle of the picture! The next day we will take a walk to find out!