Liechtenstein Stamp Museum

We took the bus down the mountain - the altitude really gets to me - it makes me feel high. Once back in Vaduz we went to the Stamp Museum, boring but free. There we got our passports stamped with the Liechtenstein stamp and spent the rest of the time looking over all the touristy things. I bought a feather for my Austrian hat and a badge of Liechtenstein, also for my hat. As the Austrian hat is also traditional in Switzerland and Germany I'm just going to get badges and attach them.

We returned to Salzburg still using our Rabbit Card. On the train was a group of middle ages men from America, Argentina and England. They were all so set in being right about their opinions, they couldn't have a conversation. Once back in Salzburg - our excursion had been a complete success, we had spent $10 for the whole day, including accommodation, having slept on the train. I bought some lice stuff and de-lice and have been much more ardent about combing through my hair and it seems to be working. I also decided to grow out my fringe (bangs).

Photo by 9teen87's postcards

Cup of tea in Malbun ski resort

Once down the hill we caught a bus to a ski resort in the country side - it is dubbed the undiscovered St. Moritz. I think it was called Malbun. It is so high up in the mountains my ears were popping. All the way up there are little, and I mean two houses and a church, villages and wooden cottages on the side of a green mountain. As winter is on it's way out the skiers have to go pretty far up to get to snow.

Once there we found three of four hotels and restaurants with patios, for having coffee while overlooking the ski runs and ski lifts. It is very colourful as ski suits are now brilliant colours including neon. Children of about 4 years old were zooming down the slopes.

We decided to treat ourselves to a long glass of tea on one of these patios. It really was a treat at 2.40 Swiss Francs($3). We sat, leisurely nursing our tea by removing the tea bag and adding milk. I was wearing my sunglasses, red jacket, yellow scarf and blue sweater, and felt quite the jet setter. I commented to Paz that it really wasn't the best cup of tea I'd ever had. In fact, I said, it tasted metallic. Paz added her milk which immediately curdled, so a waitress grudgingly replaced it. I then decided to add some sugar to cover the metal taste. As I stirred my tea, with shock I heard and saw metal pieces in the bottom of the cup! I imagined razor blades and nails, so I fished them out to discover there was 3.30 Swiss Francs in my tea!!! You can imagine my surprise and delight. I pocketed all except the 0.30SF and called the waitress who replaced the tea, not really understanding what I was explaining to her. We were in hysterical laughter by now as Paz's second cup of tea also curdled and was replaced. Paz was told that she should "Stir the milk in slowly". After that with two normal cups of tea we sat and enjoyed ourselves watching the skiers. I don't even think the money was there when the tea arrived, I have no idea how it got there. After all that in very bad taste they didn't give us our tea for free which they should have. We left trying to explain to them that we had found 0.30 SF in the tea, but they had no idea what we were talking about, and shooed us away, which was fine with us.

Photo by Andreasmarx

liechtenstein castle

We decided to walk up the mountain to the castle, although you can't actually go in. We have a standing joke that if there is a mountain to climb or stairs to go up, we find them The wooded area was very English and more like autumn than spring, as all the leaves were shades of yellow and brown. On the mossy sides of the cliff face at intervals, water seeped out from hidden springs - turning the rock beneath it black and slimy. Also as you climb the hill there are notices giving you tit bits of information about the place. This, I suppose id to distract you from the steep climb.

The royal family originally resided in Vienna, and the family served in various official capacities. Them the emperor gave one of the family this land, from them on it has been an individual country with flag, crest etc. They speak a German dialect, use the Swiss Franc and are famous for their wine and stamps. They have a steady economy and a mixed government system. They are a contradictory - democratic socialistic monarchy. The government "diet" discusses everything, but the king has the final word. We kept seeing people and thinking they could be one of the royals out for a stroll, as there is no security. You can go right up to the castle gate and ring the front bell.

The mist framed the castle against the king sized mountains and different shades of green rolling hills. We came, we climbed, we saw, we went back down.

Photo by Albert AK

Liechtenstein

Lichtenstein is distinctly different to Austria. The castle is the first thing you see, it is the home of the royal family and sits atop a wood covered hill. It is in the middle of the Alps and surrounded by snow covered mountains, like something off of a castor sugar packet. We arrived extremely early and were very cold. Although Vaduz is their biggest city it is basically one main street and a castle. We walked along the main street, and then sat in a church to keep warm for an hour, while dust coated cleaners did the floors. The church was surprisingly warm and although Catholic was not very ornate, perhaps because now we were further west. As we left we remembered to cross ourselves in front of the alter, for show. And we hoped we crossed ourselves in the right direction - Orthodox cross right to left and Catholics left to right - or the other way around!

We came across a beautiful mosaic covered building being used as a police station. I took a photo as part of my more-photos-plan. Once 8am hit we returned to the Tourist Info to discover it was closed for the day. Saturday. But it didn't really matter as we had our "Let's Go" and at least, unlike some countries, the info was accurate.

Photo by Kyselak on Wikimedia