This post features: Liechtenstein, San Marino and Andorra
Liechtenstein – August 2017
Panoramas:
Vaduz:
Vaduz, Liechtenstein – founded in 1719. Liechtenstein is a sovereign state and UN member; the fourth smallest state in Europe, the sixth smallest country in the world and doubly landlocked (quiz fans take note). They have their own dialect – Alemannic – Vaduz is pronounced “vadootz” with the “oo” shortened as in “book” or “look”. It is part of a monetary and customs union with Switzerland. Absurdly, it wasn’t until July 1, 1984, that women’s suffrage was introduced in Liechtenstein and even then it was a slim majority (51.3%). Needless to say it was the last country in Europe to grant women’s suffrage (New Zealand was the first country to grant the vote to all adult women in 1893).
The Cathedral:
Vaduz CathedralVaduz Cathedral
Street Scenes:
My hotel (Löwen) and up on mountainside is the castle where Alois, Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein lives…Rain coming in from SwitzerlandIf you like modern art then this place should appeal – lost on me, though…The city museum had a very good exhibition on ancient Egypt…A Liechtenstein number plateThis stream runs through Vaduz and sort of parallel with the RhineLiechtenstein does have its own brewery and this – the Alpagold – is very nice..
The Castle:
Vaduz Schloss – it isn’t open to the public – but there’s a nice walk up to it…Vaduz Schloss Vaduz Schloss Looking down on Vaduz from the castle
The Austrian Border:
The border crossing into Liechtenstein from Austria on my way back from Feldkirch on the bus The border crossing into Liechtenstein from Austria on my way back from Feldkirch on the bus Back in Liechtenstein after the hurly burly of Austria…
San Marino – March 2019
The easiest way to get to San Marino is by the bus from outside Rimini station – the fare is €5 each way; the journey takes about 50 minutes and the bus runs about every 2 hours…All aboard!San Marino is the oldest surviving sovereign state and the oldest republic (301ad)…The Republic of San Marino – at 61sq km, it is the smallest independent state in Europe. It has a population of less than 35,000. There are 48 European UN member states and coming here takes my tally up to 47…The view from my hotel roomThe Palazzo del GovernoBasilica del SantoThe San Marino car registration plateLa Rocca – one of two castles you can visitView from La RoccaView from La RoccaLa Cesta – the other castle to visitLooking back at La Rocca from La CestaThe Montale – you can’t go up it but there are nice views from the base as you are still high upA model showing the layout of the old town in San Marino – my hotel is up near the castle – great if you like steps and steep climbs – not so bad on the way down, clearly Worryingly, there are several shops like this one selling everything you need to equip a small army… In addition to the Vampire museum, there is a museum of torture and a museum of curiosity – you can’t say they don’t try…The domestic bus terminalThe international bus terminalA curious collection of aircraft as seen from the bus…The Aviation Theme Park, in the hills above Rimini and on the border with San Marino, opened in 1995 and has around 50 aircraft…
Andorra – June2019
The bus from Barcelona Airport to Andorra La Vella, the capital of Andorra, takes about 3 hours. Andorra is not in the EU, nor is it a member of EFTA – but it is a UN member state and, for me, the last of the 48 European member states to visit. The first 2 hours of the drive whizz by and you pass through spectacular scenery and dramatic landscapes…The border, where my passport was checked but not stamped…The Valira River (also known as the Gran Vilera)…Andorra is the world’s biggest microstate and the sixth-smallest European state, with an area of about 181 sq miles. It is landlocked and surrounded by France and Spain…My hotel room has a balcony, which is nice…St Esteve St EsteveThe old parliamentDramatic scenery – note the floating BuddhasFloating BuddhasAngel on a trapeze, apparentlyThe locally brewed Boris Beer is an acquired taste. My friend Yuliya reminded me that it is named after the first and only king Boris – Boris Mijáilovich Skósyrev of Vilnius. His story is fascinating – see: http://www.boriscraftbeer.com/boris-i-dandorra/ and https://www.historyfiles.co.uk/The Andorra flag is similar to Moldova’s flagIn San Marino they have shops full of guns, knives, crossbows and other devices for killing while here in Andorra the shops openly display and sell cigarettesIntriguing cloud above Andorra La Vella
Encamp:
Getting around Andorra in the local buses is quite easy and the it seems to be a flat fare for every journey. The National Automobile Museum in Encamp is a little gem and only €5 entry fee…The National Automobile Museum in Encamp The National Automobile Museum in Encamp The National Automobile Museum in Encamp
Ordino:
Ordino is quite pretty and in a lovely settingThe church of St Cornelia and St CebriàSome nice icons in St Cornelia and St CebriàSome nice icons in St Cornelia and St Cebrià Some nice icons in St Cornelia and St Cebrià Some nice icons in St Cornelia and St Cebrià The Post Office Museum only does guided tours, which take an hour – so I didn’t bother
La Massana:
This is taken in La Massana – not sure why it’s so dark…The church of St Iscle and St Victoria in La Massana – it was locked, sadly…La Massana isn’t attractive but it is set in a beautiful valley – I had lunch here and the friendly waitress taught me some Catalan – which was handy as that’s what they seem to speak in Andorra and she laughed at Google Translate’s attempts at translating English into Catalan…
