Ticino-Switzerland : March 29, 2017 - Morning in Vitznau and driving back to Lugano with Matt

This morning in Vitznau, Rick and I got up and went for a walk after breakfast. We were waiting for Matthew. His class went to the Zurich airport very early in the morning. Matt had to accompany them, but he stayed on and rented a car at the airport and drove to Vitznau to pick us up.

The morning train up to Rigi leaving Vitznau.

The train beginning its steep climb!

And away it goes....

We find an odd type of "artwork?" on our hike. Lots of pieces of wood with little holes drilled in them. It was an insect hotel! Really - that's what it said!

Morning views looking back to town. A funny thing happened on our walk. I was following some smaller, shortcut paths to go up higher in town. We take a marked path, but it ends at someone's yard. Often in Switzerland paths will cross people's property. We see a man on his terrace in the backyard and he motions us to continue, but soon I see where are just in the middle of his garden and I don't know where to go! He comes to help us, and we find out he is Australian and has been living in Switzerland for many years. He spends May-October high in the mountains, tending the cows for local farmers. Once the cows are brought down in October, he is on "vacation" until the following May. He was so nice and invited us for coffee, but we needed to get back to meet Matt. I'm sure he would have SO many fun stories to tell!

So here is what we found at the spot of the town map that had a symbol of a T-shirt on it. There is a waterfall here (when there's water) and a small swimming hole - just out of the picture on the left. But I notice odd vent pipes coming out of the ground, and a door in the rock in the background. I know that there must be a large army barrack underground here!