Switzerland Part 2

 We crossed the border into Germany to visit Konstanz a beautiful university town and did a day trip to Liechtenstein (another country ticked off!). 

 

Coffee in Liechtenstein

On that trip we drove back through the mountains via Appenzell and St Gallen. In Appenzell we the kids got Swiss Army knives. Ben had been driving us NUTS about it for the previous week or so and thank goodness we could finally shut him up. We had lunch by the river and used our new pocket knives to cut up our bread and cheese. Lovely. 

 

Pocket knives for everyone (including the 2 year old!)

After that we made it to St. Gallen which is the site of a very old cathedral and remarkable library. We had to put on special felt slippers to get in so we didn't mark the parquetry floor. Some of the books on display were over 1000 years old! One was nearly 1500 years old! They even had an original Mozart music score signed by the talented man himself. All rather incredible. After that it was zoom back to Simon and Rachelle's house for another lovely dinner.

Our last evening in Altnau we cycled through farm fields to a local cafe in an orchard which is on a cycle route. The Swiss do cycleways pretty darn well I have to say. In amongst the orchard were tables and chairs as well as any old bit of machinery the owners had found in their wanderings. Hence there was an old tractor or two, some slides, swings, a roller, as well as a spinning chair ride (rather popular with the chillen). All the while cyclists would tootle past with loaded panniers off for an adventure somewhere. All rather endearing.

Cycling, coffee and yummy food heaven

 

 

 I must say that even though the majority of people have said we were stark raving mad to go on a long trip with 3 small children, it hasn't put us off more travel. I suspected we might have to hand Ben, Finley and Maja over to social services or somebody when we returned home to regain some sanity, but it hasn't been the case. In fact we're happily planning more trips, even cycling trips!

So the last morning we bade Simon, Rachelle, Millie and Finn and drove to Zurich to return our car, meet a university friend who happened to be in Zurich for the same few hours we were and catch an overnight train to Berlin.

 

This was at the Zurich train station! Pedal powered lathe!

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He gave a spinning top to B and F to play with

Gratuitous shot of Delia because I haven't put enough in