Lucerne
Where the Alps Rest Upon the Lake

루체른
호수 위에 머문 알프스의 시간

After saying goodbye to the Matterhorn, we descended from the heart of the Alps and discovered another face of Switzerland. Lucerne welcomed us with a different kind of beauty—one where majestic mountains embraced a peaceful lake, and nature quietly became part of everyday life.

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Leaving the Matterhorn Behind

After our unforgettable encounter with the Matterhorn, we returned from Zermatt to the quiet mountain village of Täsch, where we spent one more night surrounded by the stillness of the Alps.

Since we had already enjoyed dinner in Zermatt, we went straight to our room upon arriving at the hotel. Exhausted from a day spent climbing into the mountains and taking in one breathtaking view after another, we fell asleep almost immediately, leaving our luggage unpacked beside the bed.

At four o'clock the next morning, while darkness still covered the valley, we woke, packed our bags, enjoyed a simple breakfast, and prepared to leave the Alps behind.

The Road Down the Mountains

I still remembered the dramatic mountain road we had traveled on our way up to Täsch. Steep cliffs, narrow roads, and breathtaking drops had remained vivid in my memory.

This time, I deliberately chose a seat on the opposite side of the bus. For nearly an hour, I avoided looking down into the valleys below, keeping my eyes fixed instead on the distant mountains.

The descent felt even more intimidating in the darkness before sunrise.

A thought quietly crossed my mind. Had I not spent two days in the embrace of the Alps, had I not stood before the Matterhorn itself, I might never have found the courage to travel down this mountain road again.

Yet something within me had changed. The peace I had found among the mountains remained with me, replacing fear with quiet confidence.

Most of our fellow travelers were still asleep, unaware of the winding roads beneath us. I remained awake, silently praying for our safety and for our Polish driver, whose calm hands guided the bus through every sharp turn with remarkable skill.

Back to the Gentle Plains of Switzerland

After nearly an hour, the rugged mountain road finally gave way to open countryside. The towering cliffs disappeared behind us, replaced by peaceful meadows, charming villages, and rolling green fields.

Only then did I finally relax. For the first time that morning, I closed my eyes and drifted into a brief but welcome sleep.

Later, I learned that while I slept, the countryside outside the window had become even more beautiful. Many of the other travelers had awakened to admire the picturesque Swiss landscape, while I unknowingly missed part of it.

Strangely, I felt no regret. My heart was already full. The memory of the Matterhorn was more than enough to carry with me.

Meeting Another Face of the Alps

Nearly three hours later, we arrived in Lucerne.

Two years earlier, I had briefly visited Zurich. At the time, I had hoped to see the Alps, but they had remained hidden from view, leaving me quietly disappointed.

Lucerne was completely different.

Here, the city itself seemed to rest gently within the embrace of the Alps. Snow-covered peaks surrounded the lake, while the Reuss River flowed peacefully through the heart of the old town.

We crossed the famous Chapel Bridge at a leisurely pace, enjoying the warmth of its centuries-old wooden structure and the gentle sound of the river below.

Nearby, a small open-air market lined the riverbank. We bought freshly pressed apple juice and slowly walked along the water, savoring both the sweet flavor and the peaceful atmosphere.

Standing beside Lake Lucerne, I looked across the water toward the mountains. Wherever my eyes turned, the snow-covered Alps framed the horizon like the pages of a beautifully illustrated book.

I found myself quietly wondering,

"How wonderful it must be to live in a city like this... To enjoy all the comforts of everyday life while waking each morning to the sight of the Alps."

Only a short time earlier, I had wished I could remain longer in Zermatt. Now, standing beside the peaceful waters of Lucerne, I discovered another place where I could easily imagine calling home.

A Taste of Home in a Distant Land

After spending a relaxing morning exploring Chapel Bridge and the old streets of Lucerne, we headed to a nearby restaurant before continuing our journey to Mount Rigi.

It was our first Korean meal since arriving in Switzerland.

Considering the high cost of living in Switzerland, we knew that a Korean meal would be a rare treat during the trip. By the time we entered the restaurant, everyone was smiling with quiet anticipation.

The menu was simple—Kimchi Soybean Paste Stew and Spicy Stir-fried Pork.

The stew was unlike anything we would normally eat in Korea. It was neither traditional kimchi stew nor classic soybean paste stew. Instead, it was a comforting blend of tofu, kimchi, and fermented soybean paste.

Back home, it might have seemed like an ordinary meal. But after nearly a week of bread, cheese, and Swiss cuisine, that warm bowl of soup felt like a greeting from home.

Even the spicy pork tasted exceptionally good. Normally I prefer simply grilled pork and rarely choose heavily seasoned dishes. Yet on that afternoon, every familiar Korean flavor felt comforting and deeply satisfying.

Looking at the prices on the menu, I quickly understood why our tour included only one Korean meal. Dining in Switzerland was expensive, and every meal reflected the country's high cost of living.

Still, everyone finished every grain of rice. For a brief moment, we forgot how far away we were from home.

A Quiet Europe

After lunch, we continued walking through the streets of Lucerne. We browsed local shops, looked for small souvenirs, and simply enjoyed the peaceful rhythm of the city.

As we wandered through the streets, something unexpected caught my attention.

There were very few Chinese tour groups.

Normally, Europe's most famous destinations are filled with large international tour groups, especially visitors from China. From historic squares to museums and scenic viewpoints, their lively presence is usually impossible to miss.

This time, however, everything felt remarkably quiet.

The airports had been calm when we departed from Korea, and the same silence seemed to follow us throughout Europe. The pandemic had transformed not only the way people traveled, but also the atmosphere of entire cities.

The streets felt peaceful, yet beneath that tranquility lay another reality.

Every Journey Is Connected to Someone's Life

Our Polish driver quietly shared part of his own story.

With so few international tour groups arriving, especially from China, he feared that he might soon be without work for some time.

His words stayed with me.

For us, this was simply a holiday. For him, fewer travelers meant uncertainty about tomorrow.

It was a reminder that tourism is never only about sightseeing. Behind every journey are countless people whose livelihoods depend upon travelers arriving safely from around the world.

Hotels, restaurants, drivers, cafés, local markets, and small family businesses—all are quietly connected through the movement of people.

Only then did I fully realize how deeply one nation's circumstances could influence lives across continents.

The pandemic had become more than a health crisis. It had become a shared human experience that reached every corner of the world.

Toward Lake Lucerne

Soon we arrived at the pier beside Lake Lucerne.

The next part of our journey would take us across the lake by boat before continuing upward on the mountain railway to Mount Rigi.

A white passenger boat waited quietly at the dock, gently rocking upon the clear blue water.

Beyond the lake, the snow-covered Alps reflected softly beneath the winter sky. Another unforgettable chapter of our Swiss journey was about to begin.

Across the Waters of Lake Lucerne

We boarded the passenger boat and began our journey across Lake Lucerne. At an intermediate pier, we would disembark and transfer to the mountain railway that climbed toward Mount Rigi.

A strong winter wind swept across the lake, and the air was far colder than we had expected. Few passengers ventured outside onto the open deck. Most remained inside, watching the scenery unfold through the large windows.

We found seats in the lower cabin and turned our attention to the view.

As the boat moved gently through the water, Lake Lucerne revealed another side of Switzerland. Snow-covered Alpine peaks stood around the lake like a vast natural screen, while small villages rested peacefully along the shoreline.

The boat did not seem to hurry.

It carried us slowly and quietly, as though inviting us to remain within the landscape for as long as possible.

Looking through the window, I no longer felt as though I were merely traveling through Switzerland. It seemed instead that we had entered a painting and were gliding through its still and beautiful world.

The Cup of Coffee We Never Had

I had imagined drinking a warm cup of coffee while looking out over the lake.

However, because we were traveling in second class, we assumed that the upper observation level was reserved for first-class passengers. We remained in the lower cabin throughout most of the journey.

Only when the boat was approaching our destination did we notice other passengers moving freely upstairs.

We soon discovered that anyone who ordered coffee or another drink could use the upper seating area.

For a moment, we looked at one another in disbelief before bursting into quiet laughter.

“If only we had known a little earlier.”

We could have enjoyed the lake from above with a warm drink in our hands.

Yet perhaps travel is meant to contain such small disappointments. Not every moment unfolds perfectly, and not every opportunity is recognized in time. Sometimes an unfinished experience becomes the very reason we dream of returning.

A Gentle Farewell to Lucerne

The boat finally reached the pier, and we gathered our belongings before stepping back onto land.

Our next journey would take us upward on the mountain railway to Mount Rigi.

If the Matterhorn had shown us the powerful and majestic face of the Alps, Lucerne had revealed their gentler side.

Here, mountains, water, bridges, markets, and ordinary daily life existed together in quiet harmony.

In Zermatt, I had felt how small a human life could seem before the grandeur of nature. In Lucerne, I discovered how beautifully human life could exist within nature.

The two places belonged to the same country, yet each offered a completely different kind of wonder.

The Small Moments That Remain

Our time in Lucerne had been brief, but the city settled deeply into my memory.

I remembered the wind passing over Chapel Bridge, the sweetness of freshly pressed apple juice, the warmth of a familiar Korean meal, and the boat gliding quietly across the winter lake.

Travel memories are not preserved only through grand landscapes. More often, it is the smallest moments that remain most clearly after many years have passed.

If I ever return to Switzerland, I would like to spend an entire day sitting beside Lake Lucerne.

I would not need to visit every landmark or follow a carefully planned schedule. It would be enough to watch the mountains, feel the wind, and drink the cup of coffee I had missed the first time.

Lucerne became a place where doing nothing seemed entirely sufficient.

It remained in my heart as a city of quiet rest, while our journey continued toward another mountain and another page of the Alps.

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From the Author

Lucerne remains in my memory not as a dazzling city, but as a place that allowed my heart to rest. Travel is not only about discovering somewhere new. Sometimes it is about slowing down long enough to see ourselves more clearly. Lucerne gave me that kind of stillness.

Book Quote

“Beautiful scenery remains in the eyes, but peaceful moments remain in the heart.”

Next Story

In the next chapter of The Song of the Alps, we travel upward to Mount Rigi, the Queen of the Mountains, where lakes and snow-covered peaks become one peaceful and unforgettable panorama.