Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein. It’s all a bit trivial really.

The 6th smallest nation in the world.
The only country in the world to be named after the people who bought it.
The world’s biggest exporter of dentures.
They feed their cows hemp so they can produce happy milk.

But after all the build up, it was a bit of a let down to be totally honest. Not so much a country rather than just another region of Switzerland. It shares (or rather borrows) so much from the Swiss – border guards, police, money, supermarkets, even Man Walking! What it does have however are its own postal stamps, and sending a postcard, together with paying £2 to get your passport stamped, is what most people seem to come here for.

And while we were expecting to see villages full of twisting mazes of medieval buildings, everything was almost completely new. Even the royal Schloss overlooking the capital of Vaduz (a tiny village really) was in the middle of renovations.

Is this really the most fun to be had in a captial city?

But it was great to be here to see it ourselves, and despite all the Swissification, there were some truly beautiful spots - rolling, flowery pastures set against a slowly melting alpine backdrop. Totally gorgeous.

Rolling green pastures and blue skies

Enjoying my very own 'Heidi' moment

Lots of vineyards around, but we couldn't stretch to the 14 euro a bottle to try any

So who likes butter then?

Some beautiful sights though - a nameless schloss in Balzers

Happy cows (with giant cowbells) in someone's backyard in downtown Balzers

Liechtenstein even has its own ski field, and we were hoping to be able to spend a morning on the boards, but alas their season had seemingly finished weeks ago and the pistes were now covered with buttercups and clover. And a pair of marmottes preparing their burrows for the summer ahead.

Look closely in the dark patch and you'll see a pair of marmottes!
(doh forgot the zoom lens!)