HEIDILAND and VADUZ The brochure of the Zürich tourist office used this picture to introduce its tour to Heidiland, an area in the eastern part of Switzerland, made famous by the story of the orphan Heidi by Johanna Spyri. She choose this part of the Swiss Alps as the place where Heidi grew up.  The lyrical decription of all the picturesque scenery along the way and, not in the least the fact, that we would stop in Vaduz, Liechtenstein, made me enthusiastic enough to book this tour. Unfortunately on the day of departure Mother Nature did not share that enthusiasm. She let it rain along most of the tour. A lot of the scenery looked like this from the windows of the tour bus. Not all that picturesque.... | |
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Our first stop was Rapperswil. When we crossed lake Zürich the wind was blowing real hard and we saw foam-capped waves on the water. Then when we got out of the bus my umbrella was promptly turned inside out. Most of the tour members dove inside the nearest coffee shop. The hardier ones braved the elements and set out on foot to admire the scenery. I admired the delicious pastry that accompanied my coffee. When it was time to reboard the bus it was still windy and I saw a mother chasing a windblown stroller across the square. Then we settled into our comfy seats and the bus drove off toward Vaduz. | |