A lovely little day in lonely Lichtenstein!

In the early morning hours post Christmas, while everyone’s still asleep, there’s no rest for the wicked it seems, as Jesse & I tiptoe around, unskillfully avoiding creaking floorboards. Carefully, we shut the door and set out for a day trip to Lichtenstein, the 6th smallest country in the world. 

Before we even really get anywhere, the view from our train windows is an attraction in itself. Once the train breaks out of the Zürich basin, the temperature drops and fog evaporates revealing an endless stream of snow dusted towns, churches & castles backed by the mighty alps. Looking out the window, I sigh, thinking about why I can’t stay here forever. 

It’s time to break out of my melancholy moment though as we’ve arrived and even though it’s a clear sky with the sun beaming upon us, it’s bitterly cold. To warm ourselves, we stow away in a tourist shop. Here I see the cutest postage stamps and I’m tempted to post mail… but at 18 euro for an envelope I’m quickly put off the idea. What we are willing to pay for however, is 3 euro each to have our passports stamped. Completely redundant but we love it! 

After regaining enough will to brace the cold we begin the walk up to the reigning monarch’s castle. I say walk… but I really mean climb. The path is flat but the incline is so steep I feel like a mountain goat, using the slightest indent of stone as grip up to our first view of Vaduz the capital. It feels so luxuriously exclusive. How many people have seen this view? Who’s been to Lichtenstein? Surely not many people. Again, with a private little smile, I remember how lucky I am as we continue to the castle.

From here we peacefully meander around the quiet crevices of Vaduz, finding hidden beauty everywhere. We pretty much have the place to ourselves. And while Lichtenstein can’t claim to be a hub of any world wonders, It’s a rare moment in travel where there is enough space and silence to just let the moment sink into your soul.