Liechtenstein
For such a small place, it seemed that all we did was climb.
In Vaduz, we climbed to the medieval fortress that now is home to the Princely Family of Liechtenstein, and we climbed the winding streets of the town for panoramas of the valley below. In Balzers, we climbed hillside vineyards to the Gutenberg Castle, which originally was a church.
Climbing is to be expected in this principality of 37,000 people squeezed between Switzerland and Austria. Two-thirds of its 62 square miles (about twice the size of Manhattan) consists of hills and mountains. This is where the eastern and western Alps meet.
After an hourlong train ride from Zürich to the border town of Sargans, we hopped on a bright yellow Liechtenstein Bus us to cross over into the principality (long-distance trains don’t stop in the country). We used the frequent and reliable bus service to see the place from end to end — about 12 miles — and to cross over into Austria.
The place is rich with vineyards. According to its tourism Web site, there are 178 growers and four professional vintners here. We stopped at the Hofkellerei, or wine cellars, of the Prince of Liechtenstein, and left with a bottle of wine and two glasses. We still use the glasses on special occasions. The wine was so awful that we poured it out.