Liechenstein and Fondue

September 2, 2013
We awoke this morning to a cool, sunny day here in Heidi country. As we move from place to place in Europe, we have discovered a pattern in hotel breakfasts—muselix, fruit, yogurt, a meat (salami and ham) and cheese tray, and scrambled or soft-boiled eggs. Oh, and breads! They love their breads, especially croissants, and their jams and Nutella. After breakfast, we decided to head for the hills. That’s pretty easy around here since there are so many. Our GPS friend Samantha from home led us to Lichtenstein. I drove. In all fairness to “her,” Appenzell is tucked up in the mountains so snugly that it’s difficult to get anywhere else from here. She knew the way. Many times we missed the turns because I thought the little lanes were leading into cow pastures on the side of a mountain. I also felt as if I was a contestant in the “Amazing Race.” Once again we were on two-way roads not really big enough for two vehicles. Roads that had no shoulders! The natives drove at their normal fast speeds. The hairpin curves curved so acutely that Samantha thought they were distinct turns and would instruct us to turn right or left on the same road on which we were driving. The Rhine River separates the countries of Switzerland and Lichtenstein—right in the middle of the river.

At that point, it is just a calm stretch of river, a bit barren in places. Robin tells me that we will see it in other places and it will be deeper and wider.

(That's our ride - looking right at home in the Rockies!)

(a picture of the whole country of Liechenstein, I think)
It was a lovely jaunt today—only about 35 miles each way with the Alps lining the roadways—very reminiscent of the Rockies in Montana and Canada. What’s interesting to us is that we can travel from country to country over here, and we have not encountered customs or been asked for a passport since we arrived at the airport in Stuttgart.

When we returned to Appenzell, we walked about the village and ended up having an early dinner at a sidewalk restaurant. I’d forgotten that the Swiss introduced fondue to the world. It was a word we recognized on the menu, so we indulged in their standard cheese fondue. What fun we had—it brought back memories of the 70s when everyone seemed to have a fondue pot. The salads in Europe are interesting arrays of vegetables. We ordered a mixed salad and received a lovely arrangement of lettuce surround by small piles of diced beets, cabbage, cucumbers (waffled), corn, sprouts, and German potato salad.

Tonight, after a walk, we sat on a bench in front of the hotel and observed the activity going on around and watching cars in the fading light (VWs, M-Bs, Citroens, Toyotas, Peugeots, and even a Chevy). We also discussed how we seldom see people checking or creating texts on their cell phones here. We’ve noticed a few people talking on their cells, but no one so engrossed that they’re really not there. The people in Europe seem to celebrate being together. And one more thing about Switzerland, it’s the only European country that doesn’t use the euro for its money; it still uses francs. I love Switzerland—the fresh air, serenity of its landscapes, the green hills climbing all around us dotted with a house here and there, the charming villages. I loved Heidi as a child, and I am pleased to be in her land.