I'm back again to share my travel experiences. This time, I had the opportunity to revisit Switzerland after studying for four years for my Bachelor's degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management. Having had the chance to live in this beautiful country, how could I not want to visit again? This time, I had the opportunity during the summer break after finishing my Turkish language course. I happened to book a round-trip ticket from Istanbul to Zurich for around 107 euros, or about 4,000 baht. Since I was in Izmir, I had to buy another plane ticket from Izmir to Istanbul. After arranging the visa, I packed my bags and was ready to fly to Switzerland.

Continuing from the previous episode... I wrote a review about **Turkey... the land of magic... the episode where I fell in love with Cappadocia**. You can read the previous episode review at https://th.readme.me/p/2021.

#The camera used is a Nikon D3000, which I bought five years ago... The pictures may not be very clear. They were taken in RAW format and then converted to JPG. I didn't do much editing.

The cities I visited this time were Lucerne (Luzern) and Engelberg, which is not far from Lucerne. It takes about 40 minutes by train. Then I took the train back to Lucerne again to take a boat to Vitznau and then take the train up the mountain to the top of Mount Rigi. Friends may remember this place if they have seen the drama "Don't Forget Me", which aired two years ago. When I went, it was during the summer of last year (2015), in July.

Lucerne

Summer in Lucerne is a vibrant season bustling with tourists and locals alike, who enjoy outdoor activities such as swimming, boating, hiking, or simply sipping coffee at leisure. This period offers the most pleasant weather for sightseeing, with mild temperatures, minimal rainfall, and abundant sunshine, making it ideal for capturing stunning photographs as keepsakes.

Lucerne is a beautiful city in Switzerland. It has beautiful buildings, as well as lakes, rivers, mountains and forests. It is no wonder that many people have fallen in love with this city.

**Chapel Bridge** is a famous and historic wooden bridge in Europe. It was built in the 14th century and decorated with paintings on the gable roof in the 17th century. These paintings tell the story of the history of Lucerne. The bridge also has a water tower (Wasserturm), which was originally used as a prison and to store documents and valuables of the city. This tower is octagonal in shape and has a base connected to the bridge, built around 1300. The bridge was burned down in 1993 and was rebuilt to resemble its original state (many of the original paintings were burned).

This area is home to a large number of swans, which are naturally occurring and have not been introduced.

Condition of the wooden bridge (the picture may be a bit blurry)

The city train runs through the wooden bridge area… It feels like I'm in an amusement park.

The city isn't overly crowded, but it's not completely deserted either.

The brightly colored building is located in the old town of Lucerne.

People come out to eat lunch at a restaurant by the river.

This area has seating for people who have purchased ready-made food from the supermarket or takeaway food from various restaurants. They can sit and enjoy the view while they eat. It's truly a delightful experience.

The Old Town of Lucerne

At another bridge crossing the river in Lucerne, there is a constant stream of people sitting and enjoying the view.

The white castle you see is Gütsch Castle, which is a hotel and restaurant.

This view is from the city walls and fortifications, which are located high above the old town. The peak you see is Mount Pilatus. Tourists can take a train to the top for a view, but the fare is quite expensive.

A view of the city of Lucerne with the lake and mountains around it.

On the other side of the city of Lucerne, which runs alongside the Reuss River

Behind the ramparts and walls of the old city

Carefully walk down.

Another wooden bridge in the city of Lucerne

There is a funicular railway up to Gütsch Castle, but it is not yet in operation.

The walk from the foot of the mountain to Gütsch Castle was quite tiring.

This view is from Gütsch Castle, overlooking the old city walls and fortifications.

After that, we walked to the Old Town for a while, but along the lakeside, we saw the Hofkirche St. Leodegar, or the Church of St. Leodegar. Parts of this church were built between 1633-1639 on the foundation of a Roman church that burned down in 1633. Inside, there is an altar to the Virgin Mary, statues of Saints Leodegar and Mauritus, who are the patron saints of the city of Lucerne.

The interior of St. Leodegar Church

A beautiful Swiss-style restaurant located in front of St. Leodegar Church.

After that, we walked to the Singtor Crying Monument, which is not far from St. Leodegar Church.

Along the way to the Crying Tiger Memorial, there are restaurants and bars where you can sit and have a drink.

Lion Monument The Lion Monument is a memorial to the hundreds of Swiss mercenaries who died fighting for the French monarchy and were massacred by revolutionaries during the French Revolution. The inscription above reads HELVETIUM FIDEI AC VIRTUTI (To the loyalty and bravery of the Swiss), signifying their sacrifice and loyalty to their employers.

This area features a wide pond in front and a carved lion on a not-so-high cliff. Tourists often stop by to take pictures, but not too many, allowing for beautiful photo angles. You can throw coins to make a wish. At the back, there is a museum that is free to enter with a Swiss Pass. Inside the museum, there are many interesting things to see, especially the beautiful maze-like mirror room.

There are not many tourists.

In front of the souvenir shop near the Crying Tiger

After visiting the Crying Lion, I walked back to the other side, which is on the same side as the train station.

Near the train station, there is a convention center and exhibition space dedicated to the culture of Lucerne. People enjoy relaxing here, and there is also free Wi-Fi.

This area is also a boat dock.

After walking along the lakeside for a while, you will come across Ufschötti Park, which is located on the lakeshore. There is also a beach where you can swim when the weather is hot. On a good day, many people come to sunbathe and do various activities on the lawn in the park.

Engelberg City

Nestled amidst the majestic Swiss Alps, the charming town of Engelberg beckons with its breathtaking beauty. The town is crowned by the towering Mount Titlis, a 3,238-meter peak adorned with a perpetual snowcap. This iconic mountain served as the backdrop for the snow-filled scenes in the popular Thai drama "Don't Forget Me." During the winter months, Mount Titlis transforms into a haven for skiers and snowboarders, offering exhilarating slopes for all levels. To ascend to the summit, visitors embark on a scenic cable car journey, traversing three distinct sections. At the Gerschnialp, Trubsee, and Stand stations, passengers switch cable cars, culminating in the awe-inspiring Titlis Rotair, a revolving cable car that provides panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. From the summit, visitors can marvel at the breathtaking vistas, capture stunning photographs, and immerse themselves in the magic of the Swiss Alps.

Image credit from http://ww3.templejc.edu/prodev/IMED1x16/portfolio/...

When I went, it was during the summer, and there was still snow on the mountaintop, but I didn't go up there because I only intended to see Trübsee. Another reason was that the cable car ride to the top of Titlis was quite expensive.

Engelberg Railway Station

On the way from the train station to the cable car to Lake Trübsee

A hotel in Engelberg looks very beautiful from the outside. The price is likely to be expensive.

View of Engelberg town from the cable car on the left-hand side.

View from the right-hand cable car

Take the cable car to Gerschnialp station and then take the small cable car to Trübsee station.

After getting off the cable car at Trübsee station, I immediately walked down to the lake. I wanted to see how amazing it would be. When I saw it, I was half happy and half disappointed. The lake was beautiful, but it didn't feel very natural. There was a cable car station on the other side for going to the Jochpass station, which then connects to the Engstlensee station. This station also has another lake, but I didn't go up because I had to pay extra. Just walking around Trübsee was enough for me.

There are boats available for those who want to paddle around the lake.

Personally, I think the water in the lake may not be that deep.

Lying down and translating this while enjoying the view of the lake makes me think that it would be nice if we could stop time (I have to go to Mount Rigi next, so I'm worried that I won't have enough time).

There are tables and chairs for picnicking.

There is a playground for children to play.

A barbecue grill is also available.

In the distance, there is a waterfall formed by the melting of ice and snow from the mountaintop, flowing down into this stream. I would like to walk to see the waterfall, but it is blocked off.

Let me take a picture of the little cow for a moment... Don't get up and bump into me, okay? Hehe.

On the other side of the lake, the buildings you see in the distance are the cable car station and a resort under construction. Below this area is the town of Engelberg.

After visiting Lake Trübsee, I took the cable car down to Engelberg and took a train to Lucerne to catch a boat to Vitznau village. Then I took a cogwheel train up to Mount Rigi. … Oh, I forgot to mention that I only paid for the Swiss Pass for all of this travel and I could go anywhere. Except for the cable car ride to Trübsee, I had to pay extra, but with the Swiss Pass, I got a 50% discount on the full ticket price.

Mount Rigi

Friends may have seen some scenes of Mount Rigi in the drama, the scene where the hero and heroine reconcile (should be the ending). Mount Rigi is a mountain peak in Switzerland that we can go up to see by train or cable car using the Swiss Pass and at no additional cost.

I took a boat from Lucerne across Lake Lucerne for a considerable distance. When the boat docked at the port of Vitznau, I disembarked and boarded the Rigi-Bahn mountain train, the station of which was not far from the port. Upon reaching the station, I showed my pass to the officer and boarded the train that was waiting for passengers.

The view along the way consists of houses and grasslands at intervals.

A view of Lake Lucerne below.

The weather today is very clear, making the surrounding views clearly visible.

To the station where we have to wait for the oncoming train to pass.

On the other side of the mountain, there are grasslands and forests.

We have arrived at the Rigi Kulm station on top of Mount Rigi.

The Rigi mountain railway has two lines: the red line, which runs from Vitznau station, and the blue line, which runs from Arth-Goldau station. Both lines are located on opposite sides of the mountain.

I think this building is a hotel.

View of Mount Rigi

This is the highlight of this place... isn't it romantic?

After enjoying the view to my heart's content, I took a train back to my accommodation in Lucerne. However, I took a different line and got off at Arth-Goldau, where I changed trains again. It was a change of scenery, and the view along the way was of meadows and dense forests. If you want to experience hiking, you can walk down, but the distance is quite long...

Let's end this review abruptly like this (even though the drama has ended...hehe). Normally, I don't write much description. I prefer to show pictures instead. The next episode will still be in Switzerland, but where it will be, please stay tuned. For now, I have to say goodbye.

Good night, fellow Thais.