Thursday, 18 April, 2024

Basel to Grindewalde and then to Triesenberg, Liechtenstein: After sleeping really well for many hours, we flung open the drapes on our full-wall window across from the bed,

so we could enjoy the great view. Disappointingly, rain was hitting the window and mist shrouded the nearest mountains. As we lay there, I had the sudden feeling that an alien invasion had begun, but it turned out to be window washers lowering their apparatus from the roof. So we re-closed the drapes and prepared for our big adventure. After breakfast at a little cafe across the way, we taxied to the airport to pick up the rental car. Avis was easy to find, but it turned out to be the Swiss one, while our arrangements were with the French one. What’s the difference? About 75% of the price apparently.So the Swiss staff showed us the way to the French part of the airport and warned us to be sure and have a Swiss highway permit on the car. The French staff were most helpful and we switched to a Kona that had a permit, so we didn’t have to buy one. Then off we went. Google Maps took us directly to Grindewalde, though that involved some rather basic and mountainous roads. Once in the town, though, it took us awhile to track down the gondola base, and nearby parking. It was snowing/raining/snowing all the way there. Interesting weather -- the crops were well-advanced, lilacs, wisteria, fruit trees and spring flowers in full bloom, and snow on the very nearby hillsides. In Grindewalde, the tulips were surrounded by snow and looked unhappy.

Although it was misty, the gondola ride was spectacular. We waded through snow half-way to our knees to get to the beginning of the cliff walk,

 

but quickly realized it would be too much, so we found the restaurant and had lunch. Outside there was the end of the cliff walk so we went out, but really could see almost nothing. 

 

Back in town, we set the GPS for our hotel in Liechtenstein, the Kulm.  Most of the trip was easily-navigated, though we did some interesting side routes to avoid road closures and they were twisting and up-and-downy.

Once we neared the area of the hotel, though, the GPS lost its mind and took us through a ridiculous number of tiny, climbing, twisting, dead-end roads until it finally declared that it gave up. A passing local directed us to the underground parking for the hotel and we made our way in, just barely in time to have dinner in the restaurant. The only other person there eating was another Canadian, who now lives in Germany.

Great conversation ensued. When we got to our room and went out on the balcony, we discovered that the hotel is right on the town square and several bus routes have stops right in front. Obviously there’s an easy way to reach it. We went to bed hoping to find that easy way out in the morning.

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