Just like last summer, we spent a bit of time in our favourite flat near the top of our favourite mountain, the Rigi in central Switzerland overlooking the Lake of Lucerne. And just like last year, we bring a few snapshots, starting with the view of and from our favourite mountain terrace.

The village of Kaltbad, where the apartment is situated. The house is a bit to the right of the picture, what we see here is the railway that takes us up from Vitznau by the lake.

«Our house» – it belongs to a friend, but we are very lucky to be able to use it, is the multi-storey building in the middle of the forest to the right. The flat we rent is on the top level.

One of our favourite hangouts, a small cafe close to the summit of the Rigi. Here we can eat our Raclette, drink our beer, enjoy the scenery and watch the trains go by.

ES’ American sister came by for a couple of weeks. America First? No way!

Hiking to the top of The Dossen, one of many peaks in the neighbourhood. The lake is as splendid as ever, but from another angle than the one we usually see.

A steamer on it’s way to the city of Lucerne, seen from 1000 metres above lake-level.

The old boats look magnificent also when you get to see them from close.

The Rigibahn starts in Vitznau, by the lakeside, and climbs 1400 metres to Rigi Kulm at the top of the mountain.

Traditionally the railway cars were red on the south side of the mountain between Vitznau and Kulm, and blue on the north side between Kulm and ES’ home town of Goldau. She grew up taking the blue trains going skiing and hiking.

It is always nice bringing friends up on the terrace and brag about the view!

One of our best friends is the squirrel Chip, who was also a frequent visitor last year. Squirrels are loners, so when Dale came around on occasion, he was immediately chased away!

If we forgot to put out nuts for Chip, he would come to the window and let us know he was there.

Another procedure from last year, we had to go to the annual Rigi Schwingen, the big mountain “wrestling” festival.

The Schwingen on the Rigi has been carrying on since the 1890ties.

Hi there, get your ass back in the ring please!

You have not lost until your back is down in the sawdust. The guy with his face buried in the ground actually

The Schwingen is a big folklore event, celebrating the Swiss mountain farming culture.

There were 5000 spectators all together, from the young to the very old!

The winner was lifted up by his fans. The looser in the final match did his knee and was actually lifted to hospital in a helicopter. Being a sporting hero can be dangerous as well as glorious.

On the subject of Swiss sport – stone throwing is also a part of many Schwingen events. The stones are not standard, each event uses the same one for decades. We have not been to any of these, so we had to rip some pictures off the net.

Another great excitement – Swiss cow fighting! The cows stand there and push till one of them gives up. It looks more or less like this. No one gets hurt or tortured, no one gets eaten after the fight!

We say good bye to Rigi for now with this arrangement on our terrace railing, but we hope to be back on our favourite mountain also in 2018!