Vaduz, Liechtenstein
8 October 2025

This year, I have prioritised visiting new countries, which for the most part means countries that are challenging, both politically and practically: visas are hard to get, things are generally unpredictable (power cuts included), rubbish is thrown about haphazardly seemingly without any care, and the wheels of everything move slowly and inefficiently. In short, the complete opposite of my vibe.

I’m just not wired for slow. People (my kids included), like to joke that I have ADHD. I remain unconvinced, though the H might be negotiable. Either way, I wouldn’t change a thing.

I can happily watch a sunset, or lean against a tree doing absolutely nothing for a respectable amount of time. I’m capable of stillness. But for the most part, I thrive on pace: efficiency, multitasking, parallel thinking, momentum. I like movement, systems working, things landing where they belong (especially rubbish). And I have been around long enough to know that this is simply my operating system.

Liechtenstein

So, after a whole lot of Africa this year, I decided I needed a little balance –

– in a clean, orderly place, where everything works. Here a little photo story of the last two days.

 

It’s a bit quiet up in the mountains now in the in-between season, so…

…first thing next morning, down in the valley I go…

… to charming Vaduz…

…and to Alte Rheinbrücke, this old, covered border bridge I always enjoy wandering through.

I also stopped by Ruggell this time. This is Liechtenstein’s northernmost and lowest-lying municipality, and the country’s only DARE region (Distinctive Alternative Remote Extremes) on NomadMania, a quirky and fun little thing for travel nerds like moi.

Ruggell has none of the dramatic mountain scenery Liechtenstein is famous for, just flat land and open skies, a little different from the rest of the country. This little town in the Rhine Valley along the Austrian border, is green, calm, and fresh.

I also took a short walk near the Ruggeller Riet wetland – small, quiet, and easy to overlook, but quietly memorable. A nice reminder that Liechtenstein is more than just stunning alpine landscape.