As if we were family.

The awkward feelings vanished as quickly as the booze that night. With an hour of struggling for conversation under our belts we were brought to the dinner table to feast on... well, a FEAST. The food would have filled Woo-Ville, with steaks and chicken, vegetables and cheeses, wine, wine and more wine. Soon we were laughing and telling stories and it felt like we were kids again. Reminiscing memories gave way to current life stories and projected hopes and goals and I realized that I have grown up. I realized that neither of us were the boys that once shared a room. We still have the same passions and desires and wish to make every moment count. Three years married, Sabine has captured his heart and rightly so! A wonderful women with all the right talents and all the rights passions. If husband and wife are to compliment than than this duo is the definition.

Zoller's

It had been fifteen years since I last saw Christoph. I had no idea what to expect or what he would look like or who he was married to or... Standing outside of the Landeck train station the sun was setting behind the Tirolian peaks, little Peugeots and VWs were zipping by on the Autobahn, cigarettes were smoked like a national sport and two twin girls no older than 4 said "Danka" on their way out of a gift shop with their mother. Every car that pulled in could have been him. Then a guy stepped out and waved his hand and in the two seconds it took my brain to register everything I could remember about him, I knew it. I hoped! With an awkward hand shake and part hug we were reunited as if we were two brothers split at birth. Jennifer followed right behind.

On the road again.

We had exasperated all activities Vaduz had to offer so we decided to get back on the bus and head to Feldkirch, Austria. Beautiful weather complimented the gorgeous backdrop we were crawling past. The sun beat through the glass windows and warmed my left side just enough to encourage a nap. As I nestled into an upright bed of down jackets, backpacks and cold steel window harnesses I realized that this was better than any Sunday nap in front of the T.V. Thirty minutes later I was rudely awakened from my warm, bikini clad, ocean front subconscious and directed to exit stage left into the cold once again. We had arrived in Feldkirch. Had it not been for the trains bringing people from one location to another this place wouldn't represent so much as a dot on an atlas. Inside the ticket office there are the staples; one diner with complimentary filled ashtrays and brown stained light fixtures, a magazine store that sold more schnapps and postcards than newspapers, 2 toilets and a coffee bar. I called Christoph. We were a few hours earlier than expected, but with nothing else to do we headed to Landeck.

Vaduz

The sun is shining and the air is crisp and clean. We leave the apartment by 9am in our quest to reach every town in western Europe in 5 days. With coffee in hand we get to the train headed to Sargans which is nothing more than a pivot on the track that will bring us to Buchs. Here is a tiny town of farmers and textiles and one very important bus stop. It's important for a couple reasons. A) It is our ticket into Vaduz, the capital of Liechtenstein and B) If you don't get the bus it will be a very long walk. I knew Vaduz was going to be small, but it is amazing that such a place can sustain any form of business, let alone a wealth banking community and thriving wineries. There are exactly two streets in Vaduz. One through the center of town and one on the other side of town... approximately 50 meters away. We bought some chocolate, a bazaar meat sandwich, couple of postcards and headed up to the castle. The Vaduz Castle is well known as one of the last fully working castles that is still governed by their prince throughout all of Europe. The walk up the small street is perhaps more gratifying than the castle itself. Newly harvested vineyards line much of the walk providing a few morsels that farmers left behind. We took full advantage of these moments and inhaled grape after grape all while snapping picture on top of picture.

Surprise

What do I say... I was fooled! A monumental task for anyone let alone a girl who's forte is not hiding her emoticons. Because we arrived to Zurich late last night and there weren't many options in the way of dining, Jennifer wanted to celebrate my birthday a day late. We found an exquisite pseudo Italian place not far from our apartment with a table for 2. I opened the door to a loud, multi-language hum that filled the warm rustic steak house like a 100 degree heat... unforgettable! The atmosphere resembled "downtown chic" mixed with "apres ski" and a touch of Wall Street. Do you see it? Food was great, wine was better, the surprise... my favorite, tiramisu complete with sparklers was the best I have ever eaten. Back across the bridge we found a popular night club, had a few libations and retreated to our delicious down linens.

McDonalds

Guess what? It's raining... After a quick stop in Starbucks we were off exploring Zurich and all of it's clean, natural beauty it has to offer. I really have to reiterate how clean it is for a major metropolitan hub. All the trains, trolleys and buses are electric and seem to run at a perfect speed all networked together in harmony. Facades are painted, sidewalks are swept, stores are well manicured with clothes properly folded and employees attentive but not pushy. All the shops were painted in primary colors with brightly contrasting shutters and window treatments, beautiful flowers adorned the sills and warm lighting escaped the confines drawing us near with every step. Christmas decorations lined the store fronts with large lit trees in the grander piazzas, wooden snowflakes and candy canes hung from lampposts. It felt like a fairytale. We window shopped and window shopped and I grew hungrier with every passing restaurant. Was there not a deli? No easy lunch spot? Could I have a diet coke please? With Jennifer vieing for anything but grease I was pushing for a staple that would fill and suffice... McDonalds! Finally tracing our steps back to the golden arches we settled on a couple value meals and cola lights! 23 francs later we were eating.

Francs and Bacci

We got to Zurich about 8pm. It was much colder, damp, raw, but absolutely beautiful! We were transported from a metropolitan grid to a picturesque Alpen town with trolley cars and Starbucks. We crossed the main river in town and headed for our apartment for the next 3 days. Immediately 2 chai teas were purchased to warm our bodies and soothe our longing for "normal" sized beverages we had been neglected the previous 3 days. We meandered up the cobble stoned street with our wheelie bags clattering behind with every new stone came a loud clack of the wheel. "Obnoxious tourists", I thought! Cute restaurants were emptying for the night, dates were arm and arm, a bohemian air filled the night. The night felt clean, crisp, like it was a fresh start to our trip. With a little work we gained entrance to our beautiful little apartment where we changed and ran out for a nice dinner at a local pasta house. My birthday had come to a close, the day was rushed, weather was dreary, we were tired both emotionally and physically. The day was one that would be forgotten if not on vacation and for the first time since waking in Florence twelve hours ago I sat there full, fat and happy.