Gex, France (Part2)

 

It's always great seeing mom and pop circuses still traversing the countryside. In the corral to the right of the bigtop I spot a menagerie of wild beasts including several llamas. 

So, this is why I came to Gex: to check out the Museum of Fire Fighters. Who doesn't like seeing fire trucks?

A variety of fire fighting vehicles on display.

A bunch of these water pumping vehicles date back to the early 1800s!

More fire trucks.

Sampling of uniforms fire fighters wore while fighting fires and when not fighting fires.

Collection of fire helmets from all over Europe.

Collection of fire extinguishers.

Trying to get hook & ladder truck in one shot.

Passing through the spa town of Divonne-les-Bains (population 10,000) I snapped this shot of the clouds building up over the Jura Mountains. In French, bains means bath. 

 I've probably visited thousands of churches in Europe. I've also visited thousands of cemeteries. I just find it fascinating checking out the tombstones. This cemetery is in Divonne-les-Bains near the church. Many of the tombstones you see here date back to the 1800's. In this photo you see two big mausoleums way in the back. The big building to the right in the back is a maintenance building. 

One normally would think these big mausoleums means the person was very rich or very important. This isn't necessarily true. Many people lived a modest or frugal life and when they passed away their money was directed to erect an impressive burial memorial.

This is the mausoleum to the left in the previous photo. I peer inside and see nothing but a crumbling statue of Jesus. No room for a body. This might be a cenotaph, a memorial---an empty tomb with the remains buried elsewhere.

Gex, France (Part1)

Before heading to Gex I'm making a pit stop in Saint-Genis-Pouilly. Why? To grab some goodies at Sebastien Brocard, one of the best pastry and chocolate shops in the whole wide world. 

Saint-Genis-Pouilly, France (population 13,000) sits at the foot of the Jura Mountains. Sebastien Brocard is a member  of Relais Desserts Association, an organization of about 100 pastry chefs and chocolate makers from 19 countries with the overwhelming majority located in France. Supposedly they're the best of the best. I've been to about 20 and found several of them to be only so-so. 

 On the right side see the row of what looks to be round containers with brown topping? That's fondant au chocolat and it has a yummy fudge center.  I make quick work of it. 

My favorite pastry is in the right corner: chocolate almond croissants. Most places stick some chocolate in the center with almond pieces atop. Here, gooey almond paste is layered atop the chocolate inside the croissant making it dangerously good!  

For years macarons were my "go to" sweet treat. 

I'm in the Jura Mountains and approaching Gex, population 13,000. 

It's market day in Gex and several streets are blocked off.

Whoa, the smell from those chickens is intoxicating. It's lunchtime so I buy one. The problem though is with no utensils/plates it's a very messy proposition pulling apart and eating with my hands. However, I've done this many a time and in the saddlebags on my bike there's a bar of soap for washing up afterwards. I still need to find a water fountain before pigging out. 

Jeez, Gex has about a half-dozen water fountains and every one has a red sign posted saying "non potable"---meaning it's not drinkable. How is this possible? I'm way up in the Jura Mountains and shouldn't this mountain water be drinkable? This fountain dates back to 1746. How long ago did this become undrinkable? 

I see this shop on a side street in Gex. It's closed for lunch but I spot guitars and a couple pianos inside.

Love these figurines. Don't know the price. 
 

Buchs, Switzerland

I'm leaving Austria and crossing a bridge over the Rhine river into Switzerland. 
 

This sign tells me there's a castle nearby. Schloss is the German word for castle. 

Gruenenstein Castle dates back to 1280.

Gruenenstein Castle and grounds are rented out for weddings and other events. Some of the castle's rooms have been converted into apartments and are occupied.

I had heard Alstaetten, population 4,100, had a nice old town area. Unfortunately I show up the morning after a big festival. The two main streets were lined with food and booze tents and debris/garbage was everywhere. 

This is an intersection in Alstaetten. You see all those red signs (10 of 'em)? They're all bicycle  direction signs for cycling routes. Some are for touring, others for mountain biking. 

Arriving in Buchs, population 11,000, I spot Werdenberg Castle perched on a hill

The passageway up to the castle takes you past some medieval beauties.

Half-timbered home on the way up.

Still heading up to the castle. 

Castle courtyard. Dating back to 1230, Werdenberg castle was donated to the Canton of St. Gallen in 1956.  Cantons in Switzerland (27 of 'em) are similar to states in the USA. 

View from the castle.

Feldkirch and Dornbirn, Austria

Feldkirch, Austria (population 33,000) has a beautiful medieval town center. That's the Rhine river.
 

Feldkirch town center

Another street in Feldkirch's town center.

Street in downtown Feldkirch.

Whoa, is that a castle up on the hill?

That's Schattenburg Castle overlooking Feldkirch.

The castle dates back to the 13th century and has been owned by the town since 1825.

View from Schattenburg Castle

I'm disappointed in Dornbirn, population 49,000, as I was expecting a bigger old town area. This building is pretty impressive though.

Church in Dornbirn's city center.

Balzers and Vaduz, Liechtenstein

 

I'm cycling along the Rhine river and spot this castle. It's on the other side of the river in Balzers, Liechtenstein (population 4,600). The river is a natural border between Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

I cross the river and Gutenberg Castle looks pretty impressive up on a spit of elevated land. 

Standing below the castle I'm impressed by the sheer rock. Of course I gotta go up and check it out. 

Aw jeez, it's closed. Built in the 12th century, Gutenberg Castle was bought by the Liechtenstein government in 1979 to be used as an arts and culture center.  

View of surrounding area from Gutenberg Castle.

Another view of the surrounding area from Gutenberg Castle. 

Vaduz (population 5,600), is Liechtenstein's financial and government center. The building on the right is a government house and the orange building further along is the House of Parliament.

Liechtenstein, population 39,000, is Europe's fourth smallest country (Vatican City, San Marino and Monaco are smaller). It's roughly 12 miles long. I don't know why they built a House of Parliament as Hans Adam ll, Prince of Liechtenstein, is the ruler in this absolute monarchy and can nix anything parliament passes. 

Main shopping street in Vaduz. 

So, that's Vaduz Castle where Prince Hans-Adam ll lords over everybody and everything. The castle is a private residence and isn't open to the public. 

Another view of Vaduz Castle. The Prince of Liechtenstein is the world's sixth wealthiest monarch worth an estimated $3.5 billion.