National Day, Vaduz, Liechtenstein
August 15, 2003
Although the weather had been hot and sunny for the past few weeks, of all days the day Liechtenstein's national day (Staatsfeiertag) is celebrated yearly, August 15 (Assumption Day), started with rain. I left my hotel in Schaan early in the morning not to miss anything. Although it was dry but cloudy at that moment I took an umbrella with me as it looked pretty dark outside. I took the bus to Vaduz (public transport was free on this day) and stepped out at the point from which I was supposed to walk or take a smaller bus. As it was said it was only 10 minutes walking - however unexperienced 'hill' walkers like me do it in at least 15 minutes - I decided to walk to Vaduz Castle, the residence of Prince Hans Adam II of Liechtenstein and his family. Already more people were walking around. A bus with invited people came in from Italy, another bus carried Liechtenstein prominents. Liechtenstein press soon arrived too. Unfortunately just before the royal family left the castle it started to rain very heavily and everybody was trying to find a hiding-place to keep dry, which was even very difficult with an umbrella.
