That was our goal. We had to do too much work to spend the night anywhere and we wanted to pick up a couple of countries. Seemed simple. 4 countries, 1 day. We would cover over 1,000 kilometers. (Is that a gilometer?)
Challenge 1. Neither of us knew how to get to Liechtenstein to get us started.
Challenge 2. We remembered to get a map after we had left the office and did not have access to a nice printer.
Challenge 3. The computer/printer at the hotel requires coins and charges by the page/minute.
Not to be overcome, I researched all of the information on my computer and then went to duplicate this on the hotel computer to print. What you should know about "google" and other websites abroad is that they cater to non-Americans. Odd, but Google in Switzerland is in German. You can choose English to search, but Google maps reverts back to German. So, as I was running out of coins, we printed directions in German. This worked fine once we realized that there the directions were telling us to turn right and not sending us to the same town over and over.
Border Crossing #1 (Switzerland to Liechtenstein)
We made Liechtenstein only to be horribly disappointed. It was a beautiful town, full of beautiful people -- sure -- but there was no McDonald's to be found. What kind of fit healthy people are these freaks? Nervous about the populace, we left Liechtenstein after settling for a tasty little brie/salami/tomato panini done with bread very reminiscent of croissant. (Coby had beer).
Border Crossing #2 (Liechtenstein to Switzerland)
We drove back across the border to head to Austria & Germany.
Border Crossing #3 (Switzerland to Liechtenstein)
We realized crossing the border that there was a cool little plaque that showed the border as we couldn't see anything else that would prove that we were here. So we turned around and took a picture
Border Crossing #4 (Liechtenstein to Switzerland)
...and then had to go back...
Border Crossing #5 (Switzerland to Liechtenstein)
...and then had to go back to get to Austria
Border Crossing #6 (Liechtenstein to Austria)
...and with that settled, we crossed over into Austria with a border guard wave of the hand. We stopped in a cute little town (Fieldriech) to satisfy the craving for mass produced meat burger product stuff at the local Herr McDonalds. Snapped some photos, I got an appel strudel at a local festival and we were on our way. I have to say that I have now seen the longest word ever. It was advertising the Sunday Buffet at the Holiday Inn and here was the word -- and I am not kidding "Langschlaferfruhstucksbuffet". I took a picture. I truly believe that the German people are so efficient in other aspects of their lives in order to make up for the time it takes them to communicate using words like that.
Border Crossing #7 (Austria to Liechtenstein)
We cannot escape... What seemed like an important destination now just seems to be in the way.
Border Crossing #8 (Liechtenstein to Switzerland)
Freeway found. We don't need no stinkin' directions. We are men. Manly men. Manly men that can't speak a lick of German so that there is no use even asking.
Border Crossing #9 (Switzerland to Austria)
Okay, now we are on a freeway... Crusing along at 140 (kilometers, but still that is moving)
Border Crossing #10 (Austria to Germany)
We were just going to pop in for our McDonald's picture, grab a Der ChikenFrufenNuggetshafen (my attempt at German) and get out. (Actually, I had a Mexican Chicken Wrap that wasn't bad.) It was called "Mexican Chicken Wrap" in German. Maybe my language skills are improving.
However, something weird was happening.
Not that I put anything past the German reputation, but we started noticing more an more people dressed in leather and boots and, well, seemed a little out of place for a stroll along the lake. We were headed down the lake to look for the ferry that could cut up to an hour out of our trip home by cutting across the lake. However, the ferry was $135 Euros and we couldn't get past the boat next to it.
To back up a bit, the lake that we were enjoying is Lake Constance which is bordered by Austria, Germany and Switzerland. There is some dispute about who governs the lake which really means that you can, in the vein I believe the Snap Dragons, "Do What You Like". This was some sort of fetish cruise. There were all kinds, ages and dressed -- although mostly undressed. ...and before anyone goes righteous on me, 90% were folks that had no business being undressed as in people that would make a mirror turn away. They were accountants and administrators, balding with glasses -- or at least that is what I focused on in order to get past the "Gimp" look. (The other 10% I admit were not too bad in a "Omigodyouareacompletefreak kind of way.) This was a car wreck that the entire town came out to watch. ...and cheer ...and bring their kids to see. This was a scene from the Twilight Zone if it were to be shown on Cinemax.
We left the scene to the sound of techno to grab a quick bite (I like to eat) at a local pub away from the masses. Quiet. Nice. Except that Team Jagermeister was promoting their stuff.... ...and wouldn't leave us alone.
We ran.
Border Crossing #11 (Germany to Austria)
Get me to my itty bitty room. Drive Coby Drive.
Border Crossing #12 (Austria to Switzerland)
1:30 a.m. "Home"
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