AWESOME day!

We left Karlsrue Germany first thing this morning. The drive was uneventful. Arriving in Lucerne was magical. It is a city built  around Switzerland's 5th largest lake, then surrounded by the Alps.   We looked around, it is spectacular, but very touristy and very expensive. (We found a place for lunch where a Hamburg with fries would have cost €29.80, each pound is worth about $1.40!) It is very hot and sunny here too, maybe 35 degrees. Our first stop was the Lion monument, a very touching monument to 800 soldiers who died in the 1700's in Paris.

Lucerne has a gorgeous wooden bridge originally built in the 1200's.

There are 100s of swans around!

Some of the views from town. 

After lunch, we took a "funicular" part way up Stanserhorn Mountain, then got on a double decker cable car to the top of the mountain. It was beyond words, there were little farms dotting the hill all the way up, with the Brown Swiss cows with traditional cow bells grazing on the mountainside. The view looking down onto the town was stunning. Then we got to the top! I actually started to cry it was so beautiful.

Yes, that is snow on the mountain peaks.

The town of Lucerne from1898 metres (6227 feet) above!

I have to warn everyone...I took a million pictures, if you ask to see our photos, it could be a long night!

After an hour to walk around, we descended the mountain, and got on a boat to cruise the lake. It was lovely, but EXTREMELY hot! 

A typical mountain side farm. I can't help but think of reading "Heidi" as a child.

There were many castles and large homes. We were particularly interested in this one, it was built in the 13th century and  it is currently owned by the "Sonnenburg" family. Tim wanted to go and knock on their door tonight! Long lost relatives!

Once back on land we walked to our spectacular old hotel (with no air conditioning...ugh!)

The beautiful grounds.

The interior. Our room is a corner one on the top floor, so we have a huge angled beam that gives it extra character.

Finally, this is the view from our room. It doesn't get much better!

We went for a swim in the lake before supper. It doesn't get dark until almost 10, so there is still lots to do! We will drive through the Alps tomorrow to get to Venice.