Day 9 - Feldkirch / Innsbruck [Austria]

The train last night was long, and pretty involved. It went from Interlaken to Basel, transferred to a train to Zurich, transferred to another train in Sagran, and finally a bus to take me into Liechtenstein. Somehow, I didn't get lost or miss a connection, which is remarkable because there were never more than 10 minutes between connections. It is really a testament to the public transportation system here, that an illiterate monkey like me could find his way around the continent with relative ease.

Again, it was dark when I arrived, so I hitched my pack on my shoulder and started walking. I was expecting cows and got banks. I talked to a doctor on the bus (highlighted hair, pierced ear, stubble, euro-jeans, denim jacket, and a razor - one of those folding scooters. Whod've guessed?) and he told me that Liechtenstein is a principality, meaning that it has a prince and a parliament. They also use the "bank secret," which means they can launder money and charge exorbanent fees to do it.

I eventually found a hotel, after being turned away by a snooty consierre at a ritzy hotel I didn't want to stay at anyway. (The picture from the balcony is my hotel view) I ate at an old half-timbered style restaurant right at the base of the castle (yes, they have a castle too, everyone has a dang castle). The castle was lit at night, and pretty neat to look at. I could see it over my right shoulder as I dined. Purposely avoiding pork and cheese, I had a tasty steak and veggies. That night I slept well, sung to sleep by distant church bells, ringing every quarter, half, and at the top of each hour.

Breakfast in the hotel was the Austrian version of a continental breakfast, although a little swankier since I was in Leichinstein. Yogurt, cereal, fancy local and swiss cheeses, cheese wrapped in salami, lots of those little foil-wrapped triangles of cheese with the cow on them, except harder to pronounce names than in the states, a couple of loaves of bread, and some rolls.

After dinner, I didn't know where to go, so I started walking towards Austria. Leichtenstein is pretty small so I figured I'd reach a border sooner or later. This town is rich! I saw so many beamers, mercedes, and more bentleys than I ever have. The storefront windows are full of watches and jewelry, as their version of souvenirs. The countryside is gorgeous, settled in a valley between tall mountains. Not as tall as the Alps, but still quite dramatic and beautiful. Eventually, I got tired of walking and caught the bus.

I met a girl on the bus, who was on her way to Switzerland to buy toothbrush. She was a nanny to an extremely rich family. They owned 7 houses all over the world. The children, 8 and 12, were so spoiled that they didn't even know how to tie their own shoes, change outfits at least 3 times a day, and they wore brand new pajamas each night to bed. The mother is a grand-daughter of the richest banker in switzerland, and the father launders money. Apparently they carry more money in cash with them than most people have in the bank. That's Leichtenstein for you. She directed me towards Feldkirch, where I stayed the night.

These countries are impossibly close to each other. I like this shot of Stewie - he's pointing to Autria on one side, and Switzerland on the other. I travelled between three countries in about 15 minutes and didn't once use a passport. I'd make more fun of Leichtenstein, but they're loaded, and seem to have life pretty good.

Feldkirch was an ok town. They had some old buildings, and the obligatory castle, of which I did the obligatory tour. Nothing too special, except that they had an unbelievable collection of firearms.

I bought a loaf of hazelnut bread and some chocolates and sat down under the metal thinking man shown in the pic to write and figure out my next step. After gorging on yummy bread, I hit up an internet cafe, bought a ticket for Innsbruck, and boarded a train.