Western Europe - Day 3

INNSBRUCK (AUSTRIA) Weather Forecast: 10-12°C It was one of those mornings when nothing exciting happened. After the incident yesterday at the bicycle lane outside the hotel in Munich, cyclists across Europe gave Michelle a wide berth by making themselves scarce.

Alpshotel, Innsbruck

Here in the early morning air, Michelle showed me something I'd never seen before. Lifting up her hand, she placed her thumb across the index finger and told me that was the gesture for Korean Love. That took considerable mulling, on my part.

lobby

Opposite Hotel

The distant hills looked like a scene from New Zealand's South Island.

Vicinity of hotel.

Border between Austria and Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein side of the border

VADUZ (LIECHTENSTEIN) Liechtenstein is a small country between Austria and Switzerland. It was linked with Austria until the end of World War I, after which it became linked with Switzerland in a customs union. Liechtenstein is famous for its many private banks.

Vaduz, a small town with a population of 5250 people (mostly Roman Catholics) is the capital of Liechtenstein. It is located near the border with Switzerland. Vaduz Castle (picture: right) is the palace and official residence of the Prince of Liechtenstein. It is not open to the public as the princely family still lived in the castle.

Vaduz Castle on the hilltop

The Castle is thought to have been first constructed for use as a fortress back in the 12th century. Living quarters were later installed. Looking up at Vaduz Castle from where I stood below, my thoughts wandered off to an article I read some time in the past about the Knights Templar.

Postal museum

According to this article, the Knights Templar originated from King Arthur's knights of the round table. In their subsequent quests, they acquired the treasures of Solomon and had those stashed away in a secret spot. The trail ran cold until someone spotted an important painting which had some link to the treasure.

The town below the castle.

Souvenir shop

Liechtenstein National Museum

Detail about the painting is lost but I vaguely remembered seeing a stone castle on a hilltop overlooking a medieval village below.  The castle on the hilltop was occupied by reclusive monks who appeared at the village below through secret tunnels dug into the hills. According to the article, the castle was located near Switzerland in a quaint little town. I'm sure you must be thinking what I'm thinking.

Postal museum

Open Doorway in the middle of the square

Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein (modern and contemporary art)

Chocolate Muffin Pumpkin soup

Lunch at Vaduz Grilled Turkey

BERN (SWITZERLAND) Weather forecast 7-18°C With lunch neatly tucked in, we embarked on the 2½ hours drive to Bern, the capital of Switzerland. Bern has been in the list of UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Sites since 1983.

The Rose Garden was arranged by Ms Yvonne to compensate us for the delay caused by the coach after the Swarovski visit yesterday.

With our shadows lengthening over the empty garden completely devoid of roses, we weren't in the best of moods.

Bern means "bear" and the Bern Bear symbol can be seen on the flag of Bern. The bear was the heraldic animal of the seal and coat of arms of Bern. We stopped at the bear pit to look down at the foliage and the caged area by the banks of the river. The bears must have been sequestered somewhere.

Old Town

The empty cobbled street was not intended for pedestrian as evidenced by the occasional tram or cars plying this route.

One among dozens which lined the long cobbled street leading to the clock tower at the end.

Shops along the street

Clock Tower

BERN OLD TOWN The Bundesplatz  is the Government Plaza in the Old City of Bern, the medieval city center.  We were there for the light show at 7 pm. The large square was packed with people from all walks of life.

Ms Yvonne (Tour Manager) had been scaring us silly with tales about the current bane of Europe. Snatch thieves and derelicts with ill-intent were out to rob us of our hard-earned Euros. She gave an account of how on one occasion she was approached by a young couple to help take their photo at a tourist spot. Upon returning the camera to the couple, unbeknownst to her, the diamond ring on her finger disappeared.

On this night, a dodgy looking couple of unknown origin, both wearing trench-coats a size too big, approached us in the darkness of the square requesting for help to take their picture.

I was immediately on my guard although we needn't have worried since none of us had any rings on our fingers. Still, if any premeditated plans had been arranged, this was as good a time as any to have those plans foiled. Our vigilance paid off. Their mission (if any) failed.

Biel-Bienne / Grindelwald (SWITZERLAND)
At 8 pm, Ms Yvonne (Tour Manager) ushered us towards the waiting coach.  It was time for the drive to Biel Bienne / Grindelwald for dinner at the hotel.

Biel/Bienne is a town and municipality in Bern, Switzerland.  It is on the language boundary between the French-speaking and German-speaking parts of Switzerland, and is bilingual throughout.

Chicken Chop

Dessert

It was pitch black when we reached the quaint little hotel. I was cold, tired and hungry, and not feeling on top of the world, although technically, we were close to the Top of Europe.

Half way through dinner, I felt flushed with fatigue. Not having any appetite for food, I retired to my room and crashed unceremoniously onto the cold white sheets. It was the fever, albeit a mild one.  Worst of all, I'd tottered onto the bed without first brushing my teeth. This had been my daily ritual since Adam was a boy but I was feeling too sick to care.

What if I'm left behind tomorrow morning, all alone on this cold bed, I fretted anxiously as I glided into the warm embrace of a troubled sleep.