Saturday 20 April 2019
We woke at around 6:00 and this time it was Earl Grey from the room tray, no need to pad along the corridor and up the stairs to the tea machine!
We were greeted in the restaurant and ordered our tea and coffee as Peter collected the fruit juices and Alison selected the fruit. She also managed to get a natural low fat yogurt from one of the waiters. We sat next to a smiling Viking employee who was having breakfast with one of the taxi drivers.
We walked across the road just as the number 2 bus was about to depart just after 8:00 and asked the driver to indicate the stop for the bahnhof.
There are a lot of roadworks outside the station, which is why we had to take the bus rather than a tram, but we now think that the number 16 tram would also have got us there.
We followed the advice from Julie and found the information centre, where a member of staff told us it was necessary to get a queuing ticket ( rather like on the deli counter in a supermarket). We duly found the ticket machine and received ticket number 102, which directed us back to the very same gentleman, who then not only sold us the train ticket to Luzern but also the return ticket on the gondola from Kriens to Pilatus , telling us that unfortunately the cog railway down to Alpnachstad was not yet operational.
We duly boarded the 0904 train IC21 to Luzern via Olten and settled down for a scenic one hour ride. Shortly afterwards the ticket inspector came by and for some reason did not like our payment receipt, he preferred to stamp our tickets!
We left the train at Luzern and followed everyone else to the wrong end of the platforms (as they were changing platforms) down an escalator along a subway and then up in a lift which brought us out at the side of the station next to the Art Gallery.
Then it was across all the bus lay-bys and across the road to stand A where we caught the number 1 trolley bus to Kriens.
After about 15 minutes we came to the stop labelled Pilatus, where nearly everyone go out and followed the signs and footpath marks on the pavement for the 10 minute walk up the hill to the gondola ticket booth, where surprisingly we had to join a queue with the cash purchasers to exchange our ticket for two ski-passes.
We then joined the queue for the gondola (4 people per car) which took us via one stop at Kreinseregg to Frakmuntegg, where we stopped for refreshment and to take a few photos. We then changed to the Dragon ride using the same tickets, which takes about 50 people and runs every 15 minutes, for the short, but nearly vertical ride to Pilatus Kulm.
There was lots of lying snow around and the restaurants and shops were very busy, but it was still pleasantly warm. After a brief stop we then ascended the steps to Tomnlinshorn at 7,000 ft. An Indian fashion group were shooting a video at the top so we were regaled with music and expensive clothes!
We made our way carefully down and, having looked at and rejected the menu at the outside restaurant, went a bit further along to the inside self service buffet, where we were able to have soup and a salad.
Once down at the bottom of the gondola it was another short downhill walk to the trolley bus stop and then on to Luzern and to the stop after the bahnhof over the bridge. We alighted and then walked along the lakeside, pausing at a Movenpick cafe for tea and sorbet.
We walked back to the station and this time saw the front, went straight onto platform 7 and the 16:54 IC 27 back to Basel. On arrival we turned left out of the station and following all the pavement signs, we found the stop for the number 2 which brought us back to the hotel by 18:20.
So a journey of bus, train, trolley bus and two cable cars!
The restaurant at the hotel was closed for the evening so we ventured down the road until we saw a small hotel and restaurant which had a “Spargel carte”. Its impossible to resist some German asparagus, so we duly ordered our meal of mixed salad, asparagus risotto for Alison and lamb with asparagus and morello sauce for Peter. An excellent meal topped off with coffee.
Back to the hotel and final packing for tomorrow.