Automotive

Liechtenstein is a country which has always fascinated me. A tiny country with a paltry 34,000 inhabitants, wedged between Austria and Switzerland is not on the top of everyone’s must-see travel lists, but as I was in the neighbourhood and I thought ‘why not at least check it out’. Famous mostly for their postal stamps, the first thing that struck me about the country is the speed cameras – they were everywhere. With four cameras on every intersection and what also felt like on every power pole, you really got the feeling ‘Big Brother’ was watching.

I tried looking around the capital, Vaduz, but there wasn’t a whole lot to see. I was a little cheesy and got a souvenir stamp in my passport, but that’s about all you could do in the place. The scenery was gorgeous however, and so I pulled over the car, and sat in a field, admiring all the spring flowers, and Alps. Oh and for those that are interested, I found Liechtenstein to have the cheapest petrol out of all four countries. Austria and Switzerland are not too far off, but Germany is by far the most expensive, because of all the taxes. But then again when driving in Austria and Switzerland you need to get a ‘vignette’ to drive on the motorways.

So after a short drive and little more than a flag on the side of the road, I entered into Switzerland. With a wide grin on my face, I meandered down through the hills into Maienfeld, better known as ‘Heidiland’. Cheesy I know, but I grew up listening to tapes, watching movies and reading all about Heidi.

I remember when I was around 14 I rang up the travel agents, to find out how expensive flights to Frankfurt were, because that’s where Heidi had moved to. Who knew that would be so close to my home for a year?

Anyway, Maienfeld itself is relatively small, and although the story is fictional (written in 1880 by Swiss author Johanna Spyri) you can go to Heidishaus, but because there was major roadworks, I couldn’t get to it. But I was happy regardless just sitting in a field, soaking in all the views.

I then carried on along the back country roads (thanks to my handy navigator, which let me avoid all the toll roads) along the impressive Wallensee, and finally along the skinny, and somewhat less impressive Zurichsee. I saw a random New Zealand flag flying from this guys workshop, that sells wood, and so I decided to stop. Turned out he just had some kiwi friends visiting, who decided to put it up. I figured you never know, who you might bump into.

That night I stayed with Dule, a Serbian Evolutionary Biologist, at his cool apartment, right in the Zurich city centre. We went out for Thai, and Dule showed me around the sights, then we met up with one of his American friends and checked out a few local night spots. Including one place, that if you had a giant record player, you could play music off the walls. Had a great time with Dule, and his friend and would have loved to have spent more time there.

Next addition is about meeting up with Gizzy locals, babysitting cats, exploring the rest of Switzerland and the Black forest.

Well life is still ticking along just nicely over here, on the other side of the world. Thankfully the sun came back, and winter has held off for a wee bit longer. I get strange looks when I drop the boys off at school, when I casually stroll around in my shorts and t-shirt while the flash mummies are all wrapped up as if it’s the middle of a NZ winter. Although it’s not exactly tropical, I’d describe the temperature more as ‘fresh’. I hadn’t really thought about it but I have had a year long summer, so winter is going to be a bit of a shock to the system when it does arrive in full swing.

After Mum left, and carried on her way to Croatia and Bosnia on her religious pilgrimage – I got straight back into things and I joined the library and the gym. The library has reasonable size English section, €10 for a year’s membership so I am in heaven. The gym thankfully has quite a high number of staff who can speak English or at least a bit of Germish. I spent last week getting weighed, measured and condition tested, of which I was absolutely horrified at my initial analysis. But that’s why I signed up in the first place huh!? The gym works a little differently to home – hell what do I know I only went about 5 times to the one at the University in Hamilton. But basically I pay my monthly membership which is €39, and then I have access to everything, even free massages!! I have a personal trainer whenever I need one, literally, and they’re making up a nutritional plan for me for teaching me how to eat whilst in Germany. They have lots of classes running which will be perfect for me, and might be a chance to socialise a bit. Strangely enough I had already managed to loose 10 kilos since arriving, with out even really trying. I think all the walking in Italy, the decrease in consumption of takeaways and the reversal of eating patterns has helped considerably. Germans have their main meal at lunch, eat a very light dinner and seldom have junk food. But the weight loss still surprises me because all they ever seem to eat here is bread, cheese and meat. Hmmm.

I went to another BBQ with a different English speaking group, I was feeling absolutely awful but dragged myself along anyway for a nice sunny Sunday afternoon BBQ. I couldn’t eat a bite all day, but managed to plonk myself at one of the tables and didn’t move for nearly five hours. The group was mainly made up of British, but there were a few Americans, one Australian, and a few Germans. I was of course the youngest there, but it wasn’t a problem. I met a nice Scottish woman who is more than willing to off load all her old books to me.

As there’s never a dull minute when I’m around, I received a phone call from a young girl nearly two weeks ago claiming I had hit her car, a brand new ‘Smart car’. Yes another traffic incident! You would think the car crash before, and speeding tickets were enough wouldn’t you! One morning on my way to taking the boys to school, I had moved behind a car blocking a side street, to let another car coming up the main (yet narrow) street to pass. The car in front of me suddenly started to reverse and so I honked the horn to warn her not to hit me, as it then became obvious she hadn’t pulled over to let the car pass but was instead trying to get into a car park which I was now in. The other car coming up the street passed, and I went on my way. Apparently she is now claiming I hit her car, and scratched and dented it, then I left the scene of an accident and she has an eye witnesses. As it happened virtually right outside the house, and our names are on the front gate I imagine that’s how she got our phone number; otherwise they must give out personal information to people who have your license plate number. I am really peeved because I never felt any impact what so ever, neither did the boys, and if there was an impact surely it must be her fault for not checking her rear-view mirror?!? She told Frank I must have been in a hurry, that’s why I honked the horn and then drove off. I never thought there was an accident, so of course I didn’t stay. But it may get tricky because she claims she has eye witnesses, who could be bloody anyone (probably just one of her mates) and the whole thing could end up in court and get messy. The alternative is I pay for it to get fixed and it gets forgotten about. But as I have very limited income as it is, it would be a devastating blow and I really don’t feel I have done anything wrong. A whole big case of misunderstanding!! I have since seen the car parked outside the house, as she goes to the high school a few doors down, and I can’t see a mark on the car at all, but it could have already been fixed by now.

To add to the chaos, I came out of the supermarket the other day and low and behold, someone has driven into the side of my car, and dented it with out leaving any details! No one was around either so I couldn’t ask anyone what had happened. It is really frustrating because I know how careful I am whilst driving here, and it just feels like one thing after the other – and Frank and Nicole have enough things to think about without me adding to it.

The last few days have also been rather eventful, as Max got sick at school and so he got taken to the doctors and then admitted to hospital where he spent two nights. The health system works very differently to home, and instead of kicking them out of the beds ASAP they try to keep them in there as long as possible because the Insurance companies shell out hundreds of euro a day to the hospital. Max had a bit of a fever, stomach cramps and funny red spots all over his head, they kept talking about it being ‘Scarlet Fever’ but nothing is still clear yet as to what was wrong with him. He is now home, as Nicole refused to play the hospitals game, and it was obvious he really didn’t need to be there any longer. Frank is in China for work, and Oma and Opa are staying for a few days. I have been looking after Mike and keeping him entertained, which usually means playing soccer in the drive way, and making sure Max is ok.

But it’s not all work, yesterday I spent the afternoon sitting on a rug in the sun by an old castle and big lake in the park, and read my book, ahh bliss. Then for dinner we went to a nice wine garden along the Rhine River. I have been going to the gym nearly every day, I go for walks through Wiesbaden city centre and I’ve also driven into Frankfurt and gone to the English Cinema and saw ‘Das Parfum’ (sorry no idea what the English title is) and also ‘The Break Up’. I like to sit out in the garden and attempt reading a German magazine, and watch all the squirrels in the trees collecting food for the winter. The first signs of autumn are here, the tree lined streets are turning red and there are carts with big orange pumpkins on the sides of the country roads. Nicole has brought a few home, and the boys are well practised at craving them. I have been told I need to master the art before Halloween arrives, as each year they have a big party and go crazy with decorating the house. I also have five days off in a row at the end of next week so I am off to Berlin with Stefan, and he’s going to show me some of the sights and sounds. So one could say, life’s not to bad for me at the moment.

Well that’s all for now, can you believe I have been here almost four months? You better start thinking about Christmas and birthday presents for me, because it’s going to take a while for any packages to get here, with the way the German postal system operates. Hint hint!

Since arriving eight weeks ago, I have been asked many times how have I found driving on the right (wrong) side of the road? Most of the time I reply “Not to badly, haven’t killed anyone yet!”. Don’t worry, in case you’re alarmed I haven’t killed anyone, but I have had my first official (and hopefully only) car crash in Germany, in fact my only car crash ever - where I have been at fault anyway. It wasn’t even because of being on the wrong side of the road, it could’ve happened anywhere. Let me explain – I was driving towards an intersection and I stopped at the traffic lights, in the far left lane, and indicated to turn left. I was the front vehicle in the queue of traffic, and when the lights changed to green, I drove slowly into the middle of the intersection, and waited for a bus going straight (northwards up the road I was waiting at) to pass, before completing the manoeuvre. The bus driver then gestured (rather rudely and aggressively I might add) that there was not sufficient room for him to pass easily (of which there was plenty). So, I put the car into reverse, and moved the car backwards. When doing so, I accidentally bumped the front bumper of the car directly behind me. Of course it had to be a brand new, flash convertible. Don’t ask me what kind – it was Blue okay! Actually I think someone said it may have been a Rover.

When the bus passed, I carried on down street until it was safe to pullover. There, I got out of the vehicle and apologised profusely to the woman driving the car. Thankfully she wasn’t really angry and spoke English. There was not sufficient enough force from the impact, to leave any visible scratches, dents or damage to either car, much to my relief. Details were exchanged regardless, and because of the apparent lack of damage – no police were called and neither of us had a camera readily available. The boys didn’t have a clue I’d crashed at all, and were wondering what all the fuss was about! The moment I got home I told Frank and thought that was that. But oh no! A few days later we got a letter from the Insurance Company saying that she’d filed a claim. For what I have no idea, as the phone number she gave me isn’t correct. So now I’ve written out a statement, and I am waiting to hear what’s going to happen.

Here is me standing in an old Castle Mote in Eltville, filled in now with roses. I just thought it might break up the monotony of all the text!

Now as you will remember, I said three things had happened. Yup, just a few short days later I got a speeding ticket! I wasn’t going too fast, I think 45km in a 30km zone. But as it was a speed camera, I will have to wait until the mail arrives to find out how much that will be. The streets here aren't as heavily speedsign posted like they are back home. If that wasn’t the final straw that broke the camels back then the next saga was. When Lisa was here we tried to find one of the big monuments, on top of a hill overlooking Wiesbaden. We were surrounded by a large forest, we had our maps out and after going around in circles (we were having a bit of a problem trying to match the roads on the map, to the roads in front of us as there were no signs anywhere, and after passing some very angry looking women) we stopped and asked some men working on the side of the road for directions. We basically had to speak ‘Germish’ (the pathetic little I know of German, mixed with basic English in which a lot of people seem to understand) and after only a few seconds it became very clear we most certainly were not allowed to be there. The paths (which look exactly like roads) are strictly for cyclists and pedestrians. The ‘paths’ were clearly displayed as roads on the map, there were no road signs at all that we saw indicating we weren’t supposed to be there. But the men said if we didn’t leave immediately they were going to have to fine us, and if we had come across their boss he would have done it regardless of our situation. So they opened a gate for us and shooed us out, with some very strong ‘tut, tutting’ directed our way. We learnt a lot about Germans that day, you are no allowed to make mistakes! In the end we found the monument, which is accessible only by foot and it wasn’t even that great.

I put this shocking last week down to several things. The heat at the moment is terrific, most days it’s around 34/35oC and the humidity is unbearable. You can’t think, sleep or move it’s so bad. Nicole says it’s never like this ever in Germany. The thunder storms, and lightning shows are almost worth it - almost. But I am not sure how much more I can handle. So the heat, mixed with feeling awful (I blame dehydration and lacking Iron) and concentrating so hard on keeping to the right side of the road, has severely compromised my concentration on everything else. Oh and Bus drivers are bullies, who need to be taken down a peg or two!

Well that’s all for the moment. Expect another instalment in the next day or two, going over Lisa’s stay, the boys and of course making new friends.