My last couple of days staying in Stuttgart, Germany were full of wonderful day trips and car rides to different countries all in one day. At one point, we had gotten into my cousin's reliable Honda and drove from Germany through Austria into the small country of Liechtenstein, through Switzerland, and back to Germany all in one day. I couldn't believe by the end of the night that I had been in four countries within a span of 24 hours. It's unbelievable how close each of these European countries are to each other and how diverse the cultures, languages, and people are in each section of Europe, even if within a distance of a couple hundred miles. Of all the crazy adventures I've been on in these last 4 months of traveling and living in Europe, that day was one of the most surreal. Here is a recollection of memories in photo form of those moments at the Stuttgart Zoo and my once-in-a-lifetime road trip through all those countries.
On a sunny afternoon in Germany, my younger cousin and I decided to be adventurous and take the train across town to the Stuttgart Zoo. Full of many different kinds of animals that are uncommon in zoos in the States, we had a grand afternoon wandering around and watching the cute German kids react to the animals.
Reminded me of Happy Feet the movie! I was surprised that this little guy had pink feathers around his eyes!
First stop: Liechtenstein!
Motto: "Für Gott, Fürst und Vaterland"
"For God, Prince, and Fatherland"
"For God, Prince, and Fatherland"
The fact that it is still run by a constitutional monarchy with a royal family living in a castle and still in power, my immediate reaction was that this must have inspired the idea of the fictional country of Genovia in the Princess Diaries - "a small country between France and Spain."
The Liechtenstein flag (as seen above, sans the "Hoi" which means "hi" in German) was all over. Even for being a tiny country, the national pride was remarkable.
Dramatic moose display lighting inside the National Museum of Liechtenstein.
Being two places at one time:
After exploring Liechtenstein, my family took me to one of the only places in the world where a footbridge borders two countries. As I walked across the bridge, I was halfway in Switzerland and the other half in Liechtenstein. Before doing so, our walk to the bridge was breathtaking with the beautiful view of the Swiss Alps.
I felt like I was in the Sound of Music. Much prettier than I had ever imagined them being.
This is the bridge! I am taking the photo on the Liechtenstein side while the other half of the bridge and the opposite side is Switzerland.
Switzerland is the light at the end of this tunnel... heh heh.
Standing on the countries' borders. Half my body is in Liechtenstein and the other is in Schweiz (Switzerland).
On the Switzerland side, a map telling the best "skate und Radfahren" (skating and bike riding) routes.
My amazing and adventurous guides, Cami and Lisa.
More Alps because not one photo can do them justice.
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