Summary: we spent the morning in Lucerne, purchasing expensive Swiss items: Swiss Army Knives, chocolate, watches, coo-coo clocks... you get the idea. In the early afternoon, we went up to Mount Stanserhorn, and then drove on our merry way through Switzerland to Liechtenstein. In the late afternoon and evening, we continued on through the Alps to arrive in Austria. We spend the night just outside of Innsbruck in a little town by the name of Igles (which rhymes with giggles, apparently).
 |
Shopping in Lucerne, Switzerland after making our purchases:
watches, clock, knives, etc. |
Awesome Moment: We took the world's first funicular tram/cable car 6,300 feet up Mount Stanserhorn to eat lunch on a rotating floor (these must be popular around here!), and then climb to the pinnacle to see the breath-taking (literally... hiking at 2000 meters!) view.
 |
| Atop Mt. Stanserhorn in Switzerland! |
Blooper: a few to mention today...
1. As we head further into our travels with this Cosmos group, we are discovering the unity and close-knit feeling with our traveling comrades. While we didn't experience many personal blunders ourselves, we did feel sympathy for one of our co-travelers, Roberto, from Ecuador. We were all supposed to meet at two, near the bus staging area. No Roberto. He had gotten lost, as he was on foot, apart from the group! Three people wound up searching for him. Kiwi (New Zealander) Tom found him, and we were on our way, about 45 minutes late for departure.
2. When there is a NO PARKING zone, Austrians mean it! Our driver received a 25€ fine, no sooner than he last traveler has exited the bus! Also, we saw a car literally being lifted (not just towed) and removed from another street's no parking zone!
 |
Polizie writing a ticket for stopping to drop us in a no-stop zone.
Our trip guide-director, Truus, is in the white on the right side. |
3. Apparently it's NOT okay to pay with both Francs AND Euros in Liechtenstein (even though both are accepted currencies!). Either. Or. Period.
Cheapest Pleasure: During our 45-minute stop in Liechtenstein, hurriedly writing postcards (1€ a piece, plus 1.9€ international postage--though not so cheap, as postage goes!) in an alleyway staircase, we basked in the mid-afternoon sunlight. It was glorious. Then we ran from place to place in the 35x9km2 tiny country, snapping photos with the country whose name bears likeness to Lara's. A LICHTEN traveling through Liechtenstein! :)
 |
| Writing postcards in Liechtenstein
|
How is the coffee? No mention of the coffee. And pastries? Have you tried any of the Swiss & Austrian pastries?
ReplyDeleteI had a pastry that day, Beage. Delicious!
DeleteI'm drinking the coffee.... Lara has sips here and there. Today's was in Italy (though clearly not on this Day
ReplyDelete(that was obviously Susan commenting, and not me!)
DeleteYeah, what SHE said!
DeleteAnd yeah, since I don't do well with the caffeine from coffee, I try not to indulge in more than just a few sips here and there. But this is Italy! And I must sample all cappuccinos, espressos, lattes, and americanos. I'm also not a big fan of beer... But "when in Rome!"... Well, not quite yet, I guess (we won't be in Rome until tomorrow). But when in Austria, or Switzerland, one must sample the beers, or chocolates in switzerland, or any speciality of the region, for that matter!
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing I'm not gaining weight on this trip; I think I'm actually losing some! All the walking and running around everywhere to cram everything all in (Amazing Race, anyone?) must balance out all of the sitting in coaches (buses), on boats, trolleys, etc. Hiking mountains and fortress walls can't hurt either when one is consuming x amount of calories on alcohols, pastries, pasta, breads, chocolates, and other treats!
Ah! Would have Loved the hike!!
ReplyDeleteAlso so glad you got to visit the home country Lara! haha
Well technically the home country is Germany. Or Poland, speaking in terms of blood. But Liechtenstein was fun to be in!
DeleteAnd I would've loved to hike up Mt. Stanserhorn with you and Kathryn.