Travel days are always the longest days of any trip. It's often a good idea to break up any travel day with stops at cities along the way. Thanks to the EU laws regulating bus drivers, we were able to stop in Innsbruck, Austria and Vaduz, the tiny capital of the little nation of Liechtenstein.
Our stop in Innsbruck was a great way to stretch our legs. Because today was Sunday, we were spared most of the usual tourist crowds. Most of the shops are closed, as are many restaurants who choose Sunday as their Ruhetag (quiet day), the one day every week that they are closed. It was kind of nice to have the side streets all to one's self. After a quick lunch in front of Innsbruck's baroque cathedral, and some ice cream in front of the Golden Roof, we walked to the Hofkirche to visit the tomb of Emperor Maximilian I. Max loved Innsbruck, and intended to be burried in an elaborate tomb in the Hofkirche. At the last minute, he changed his mind and was buried in Vienna with the rest of the Habsburg rulers. His empty tomb in Innsbruck is a fantastic memorial to the man who laid the foundations for the greatness of the Habsburg Empire.
The next rest stop was in rainy little Vaduz, Liechtenstein. This tiny nation of 35,000 people exists in a union with Switzerland. The Swiss provide Liechtenstein with protection, border control, and with currency. The nation is so small that the prince of Liechtenstien even holds a regular 9-to-5 job.
Our first night in little Engelberg, Switzerland is being spent in front of the television watching the Women's World Cup final. GO USA!
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