Appenzell, Switzerland

This weekend, I traveled to the small town of Appenzell, Switzerland! It was only like and hour and a half train ride away, so Lauren, Taylor, and I took a day trip here to ride bikes and go hiking. In this picture are motorized bikes (we rented unmotorized bikes). I took the picture because it reminded me of the Amazing Race. The contestants had a challenge to ride across all of Liechtenstein on motorized bikes like these. I wish I could have done that! Seemed like fun. From north to south, the country is only about 15 miles long.

We rented bikes down in the town of Appenzell and rode up towards the Ruins of Clanx. Our journey led us through beautiful farmland like this.

I finally see some swines!!! With all the pig products they eat here, I am really surprised I don't see more of them.

There's the barn where we left our bikes, taken as a zoom shot from the top of the hill. The official Wanderweg, or hiking trail, was a well-beaten path through farmer's fields. Along the hike, we had to open an reconnect many electric cow fences. The first one I tried to open was just behind this barn...when I tried to open it...I got shocked!!! I screamed so loud it echoed off the hills! haha. Oops...I thought the little metal loop I touched would not be electric...I was wrong! haha.

We made it!

Set the timer...run...slip on the wet, steep hill! haha.

Success...

A view of the ruins from where we parked our bikes.

A school group walking on the trail up to the ruins.

A toy store in Appenzell, and a "Trinkwasser" fountain in the foreground.

Gnomes out in front of the toy store.

Kids in Appenzell.

Pancake soup!

I got a slice of Schwarzwaldkirschetorte (black forest cherry cake) for my birthday! It looked a lot prettier before I carried from Appenzell back to Bregenz, when I took this picture.

This is our host frau's dog, Nichola! Or, Nic, for short.

In the afternoon, Lauren and I took Nic for a walk in the woods. She is such a well-behaved and sweet doggy!