Note: The cache is not at the listed coordinates.
Living in the smallest state in the country is a source of pride for many Rhode Islanders. However few people know that Rhode Island is actually much larger than a number of entire nations. This cache is the first in a series representing the world's ten smallest countries, all of which are significantly smaller than the Ocean State. These puzzle caches aren't designed to be the most difficult, but hopefully you'll learn something about each country along the way. In most cases, the information provided at the beginning of each cache page will not be particularly helpful in solving the puzzle.
Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein, the world’s 6th smallest nation, began as a loose collection of farming settlements. The area was eventually incorporated into the Roman Empire, and under Charlemagne, later the Holy Roman Empire. After several hundred years of changing hands, the land was purchased by the Princes of Liechtenstein, becoming a sovereign member of the Holy Roman Empire. In 1806, Liechtenstein joined the Rhine Confederation, the grouping of states created by Napoleon I after his dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire. Although the Rhine Confederation itself dissolved in 1813, Liechtenstein emerged from the period as a sovereign state, recognized among 38 other member states of the German Confederation. The nation’s first constitution was written in 1818 by Prince Johann I, and upon the dissolution of the German Confederation after the Austro-Prussian War, his son, Prince Johann II disbanded its army. To this day, Liechtenstein has no standing army. Until World War I, Liechtenstein maintained strong economic ties with Austria-Hungary. Upon the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, the Liechtenstinian people oriented themselves toward Swiss interests, and through this unofficial union, also remained neutral throughout World War II. Since then, Liechtenstein and Switzerland have maintained strong economic ties, bringing the smaller nation from a collection of poor agrarian communities to a major industrial and financial center in Europe.
(the view from Vaduz Castle)
Today, Liechtenstein remains a major hub for financial services and tourism in Europe. Due to its small size (and subsequently small population), much of the workforce in the country is comprised of foreign workers from Switzerland and Austria. The nation’s unique geographical position (surrounded almost entirely by mountains) provides hiking and skiing opportunities for tourists, and its reputation as one of the smallest sovereign nations in the world draws many others, largely for its pure novelty. Like neighboring Bavaria, Liechtenstein has gained the reputation of a “fairy tale” land, presenting visitors with an experience based in both picturesque tradition and efficient modernity.
The Puzzle
This is the one tiny country in the series which I’ve actually been to! The official language of Liechtenstein is German, and while studying in Munich, I decided to take a trip. In the spirit of adventure (and language learning), you will need to learn some German for this one (or at least become more familiar with Google Translate). For those native German speakers, this puzzle should be fairly simple, but please do excuse my grammar. Have fun!
Mein erster Tag in Liechtenstein war besonders fremd und interessant. Ich stieg in Schaan aus dem Zug und ging herum. Ich sah den Busfahrplan an, und erinnerte mich, dass ich Morgen den Bus Neun und Fünfzig zurücknehmen musste. Ich hatte viel Hunger, und so musste ich Essen finden. Aber als Student, hatte ich nicht so viel Geld, um in einem schicken Restaurant zu essen. Ich fand einen kleinen Supermarkt, wo ich kaufte eine Müsliriegel. Es war überraschend, dass sie nur acht verschiedene Produkte (und kein Wasser) verkauften, aber zum Glück brachte ich genug Wasser für den Tag mit mir. Ich wollte eine Postkarte an meine Familie schicken, also suchte ich auf die Post. Ich fand sie an Feldkircher Straße (Vier), aber sie war geschlossen. Später sprach ich mit einer Einheimische, die für mich viele Fragen hatte.
„Woher kommen Sie?“ fragte sie.
„Ich komme aus den Vereinigten Staaten. Ich studiere in München“ sagte ich.
„Toll! Wie lange dauert Ihre Klasse in München?“
„Ein und dreißig Tage.“
Plötzlich sagte sie mir, dass sie ihr Kind von einem Geschäft abholen musste, und sie verließ. Danach wollte ich zum Schloss Vaduz spazieren, aber ein Mann sagte mir, dass Bus Vierzig schneller wäre. Ich erforschte Vaduz und Schaan während ich die vielen schönen Berge um das Land bewunderte. Schließlich ging ich zurück zum Bahnhof und wartete drei Stunde. Ich kehrte zur Schule zurück, und ging zur Arbeit. Hoffentlich kann ich eines Tages nach Liechtenstein wiederkommen.
You can check your answers for this puzzle on GeoChecker.com.
Co-FTF goes to BlackstoneVal and ~Marvalus!