A last look around Andermatt rail yard whilst Pat takes a photograph of the town including what looks like a giant size watering can.

A final call for the group to return to the coach for the last place to visit this being Vaduz in Liechtenstein this making it the fourth country on the holiday itinerary. 

Liechtenstein tucked in between Switzerland and Austria, this country is often overlooked, despite being more than a fair match for its neighbours. In the summer, hikers and cyclists can traverse the stunning mountain ranges or valleys, while in winter these same areas offer skiing, ice skating and sledging. Small villages with chapels dot the land, while the capital Vaduz, with its stunning hill-top castle, has plenty of history and shops, to explore. Above right photograph from a card purchased for 1 Euro With its intrinsic links to Switzerland and low tax, Liechtenstein's population is one of the most prosperous in the world. Not sure if that claim still applies! If the price of postcards are anything to go by they may be, yes they are happy to accept the Euro. Their currency is the Swiss Franc. 

Day 5 Boxing Day  A good breakfast and extra warm clothing for the next venture into the snow. Our coach took us through some very scenic mountain passes to Lech. At one stage with snow blowing off the surrounding fields our coach driver faced some interesting conditions including some of the winding twisting snow tunnels which were just wide enough for two coaches to pass each other in opposite directions.

Snow blowing across the road on top of ice in places but we reached Lech just in time for the sleigh ride. This being our second attempt to have one with snow. In 2002 there was not a patch of snow to be seen because of the mild weather. There was plenty of snow and a temperature of about -4c in Lech in the sun and about -7c up into the mountains in the shade of the hills. 

Our journey started in the brilliant sunshine in the town, but as we headed further up the mountain passing their normal service buses along the way it got much colder. The steam off the horse started to freeze onto them, we were well protected with some very warm rugs. Even so we needed to warm up with a hot coffee in the Lech Post Hotel.   

A view of the Post Hotel and one of their service buses no doubt at this time of year carrying many skiers to and from their hotels . Now it was time to move onto St Anton and leave the skiers to freely walk about once we had left.

Arriving in the St Anton bus station we (well some of us) were quickly re-learning our skills learnt in the winters of 1947, 1963 etc of how to walk on a sheet of ice that we en-counted. After photographing a few more buses for my friends back home it was time now to board another form of transport. Most of our group chose the enclosed cable car to take them part the way up Arlberg Ski slopes. It was very interesting to observe the selection of pulleys and cables that enabled the cable car to slow down for alighting and boarding. 

Once aboard we were soon to see some spectacular views, that is until we reached a layer of misty cloud half way up which was depositing a layer of ice onto the cable pylons. The journey took about 10--15 minutes and we reached the top station which had a café and shops. We were pleasantly surprised at the cost of food and drinks. Pat and myself had soup and sandwich which cost a fraction of what it would back in some of the similar UK venues in Wales or Scotland. We chose to sit outside it was very pleasant in the sunshine even though the air temperature was well below freezing.

I took my battered hat that has almost used up its nine lives. Its first life used was when it blew off my head whilst working some years ago for British Telecom (now Openreach) and finished up being run over by a lorry on the North Bridge in Doncaster. I managed to rescue it and push it back into shape. Since then I have lost it, left it, sat on it and many other things. Now it is very easy to roll it up and put it in a pocket. The only other hat that seems to be so faithful is that of Claude Jeremiah Greengrass in "Heartbeat". Now that is where the resemblance ends for those of you who clicked onto that link, or does it? Typical tourist type photograph of Pat and myself by the ski rack. At our age I doubt if we could afford the insurance for winter sports, so we decided it would be better to go back down into St Anton by cable car and not on skies, especially as when we queuing for our tickets for the cable car we noticed several younger persons with pots on their legs, ankles and having to use crutches. 

Back down in St Anton we had about an hour left before boarding the coach for our return journey to the hotel. Pat took advantage to take some photographs of the town and its buildings. We had a quick look at the ultra modern railway station, but there were no trains due in the time we had left. I did find it interesting to observe that  the snow was above the height of the rails. Back in the UK our rail network seems to come to a halt when the first snowflake falls, wrong kind of snow they always say.   

A few final views of St Anton and the buses in the bus station and it was time to board our bus and head back to Feldkirch. 

Back at Feldkirch we had a look at the older part of the town, but I was keen to locate the webcam that overlooks the bus station. I had visited this web cam on the computer back at home to check out the snow cover. So I was well pleased when I found it. The webcam that overlooks the bus station at Feldkrich is located on the building in the middle photograph, a closer view on the right. Click here , go to webcam 2, Busplatz Feldkirch to visit the webcam live.

We walked back to our hotel via the railway station but not before photographing a scenic view of the river and a what I presume is refreshment stall in towns shopping centre. We had a look at the main railway station but what caught my eye was the many car transporters looking rather disused in sidings next to the station. Our coach had passed through many tunnels including I believe the St Anton and Alberg tunnels. It could be that the construction of these road tunnels has eliminated the need for cars to use the railway transporters. If you click onto the link you will see a map of some of the locations mentioned above. These last few photographs close the main part of the holiday for us it was now back to the hotel, have dinner and starting re-packing the luggage. 

Day 6 The day of departure back to the UK . A few last photographs were taken such as the bedroom etc including one out of the bedroom window. The members of our group board the coach which set off at 9am waved off by the wife of the proprietor and their two children. It was now a case of face the long journey back part 1. Again we passed though the scenery of Germany where we once again called in at the hotel in Kehl-Kork for lunch.

The last few coach photographs Leonardo Hotel at Wavre in Belgium, arriving at Calais where we swapped coaches. Then it was onto the Euro-Tunnel rail coach transporter for the last train journey of the holiday. 

Our final view of France as the train pulls out of Calais and heads for the tunnel. Something to read to pass the next 40 minutes, then we emerge out of the tunnel and our first views of the UK, perhaps not as exciting as when you are on the ferry and seeing the White Cliffs of Dover. However we were back and it was now a case of our coach calling at Standstead Airport and Retford then it was back to Doncaster, home, unpack and put the milk bottle out.
It had been a very interesting holiday to remember as you have seen from the photographs on these three pages. I would like to express my thanks and greetings to all the people we met on the holiday. A special thank you to the staff at Leger Travel and the Montfort das Hotel at Feldkirch for ensuring that everything was such a success. I must not forget the two coach drivers on our tour coach who also served everyone with the hot and cold drinks. We got quite used to the coffee with brandy, most welcome after being out in the cold freezing temperatures.  Thanks to everyone see you perhaps on another Leger Tour.

I have just received by e-mail some photographs from Jim and Pam from the holiday and I thought they may like to see them included with this Out and About feature. 

A view from the Glacier Express, whilst myself with that hat, another member of our group, Pam and Pat pose for one of the many views at the top cable car station café area. You are never too old as George (far right) proves at the age of 81. His next venture is a voyage on the MS Discovery to the Baltic later this year.

A photograph of the  tunnel under construction. The locomotive on display along with one of the "muck trucks" is a Hunslett 200hp MkII 0-4-0 electric locomotives. There were 20 pairs of these being electrically powered from either on board batteries or the trolley type current collectors. They were used from May 1989 until June 1991.

Not the view I would have seen as we approached Calais or Dover unless I was the driver of the train or an illegal.  Thomas looks in envy at the Eurostar locomotive mock up capable of fair turn of speed along with a slice of the tunnel of tunnel. What Thomas cannot see is that the it is only the cab of a Eurostar.