clairedavieswriter

Not that I was expecting otherwise.

​Guillaume’s route made clear that Liechtenstein measures just 30km north to south – specifically, from Bangs to Balzers – I’m not making this up. Okay, Bangs is technically in Austria, but let’s not allow geographical accuracy to get in the way of a bit of suggestive alliteration.

Thankfully the mountains that were the backdrop to my ‘Start’ photo didn’t feature at all.

Because I travelled the entire length of the country without leaving the east bank of the Rhine, and its glorious, smoothly tarmacked cycle path:

In fact the only thing that troubled me was that backdrop, because I couldn’t help thinking about my next end-to-end. Those mountains just kept getting bigger…

And bigger…

And bigger the closer they got:

I took my mind off things by pedalling faster towards a coffee date with my domestique in the capital of Liechtenstein, Vaduz, with its crag-top castle:

 And eclectic mix of architecture:

Vaduz (pop 5,700) is barely larger than a village, but these villagers have some expensive shopping habits:

Their border posts on the other hand are much more modest. This was the one with Austria. The sign simply has Republic Österreich top left and Fürstentum (Principality of) Liechtenstein top right. My virtual German consultant (thank you Nikki) tells me that the rest said: ‘This is a border crossing for walkers (and cyclists, presumably, given it’s on a cycle path). You may cross if you have valid travel documents but not if you’re a foreigner requiring a visa. Border crossings permitted between dawn and dusk.’ Isn’t free movement grand?

The southern border with Switzerland was even more low key. There was no sign at all, so you’ll have to make do with confirmation from Gloria Google:

But at least I couldn’t complain about the facilities:

Speaking of borders, I enjoyed how, in the first five minutes of cycling today, I travelled from Switzerland (that’s the old border post):

Across the Rhine to Austria:

Before reaching Liechtenstein a couple of minutes later.
​Other highlights included this covered wooden bridge, outside Vaduz:

And the fact that such a small country has the self-confidence to boast a ‘kilometre zero’:

And this was my sign of the day: 

Tomorrow, we’re back to being football fans, for the crucial England-Wales clash. But who will be smiling this time, come the final whistle ?