The roads of Switzerland

I have to write a little about driving through Switzerland, a so far unique experience. It starts in Lichenstein, where we have to buy a road tax sticker for a minimum of one year, you can’t drive here without and you can’t get it for less that one year and you can’t un stick ‘em and sell them on e-bay (although I am sure there would be a way if you got creative).

But the roads are the fantastic, a tourist attraction in their own right. Whether it be lakeside roads, mountain passes, bridges or the amazing tunnels. The longest tunnel we went through was 18km long, followed by a 15km long tunnel that had been constructed in the 19th century. We learnt the tale about the older one. The local council in Luzern decided they needed this tunnel open themselves up to the east, at the time the only options were donkey tracks in the mountains including the notorious devils crossing (or something like that). So they put it out for tender, and as with all great engineering achievements it was awarded to the lowest bidder. The French entrepreneur also said he would he get it done a year earlier than planned (6 rather seven years). Well the dude was clearly optimistic and 8.5 years latter and 150+ dead Italian workers along the way they had the tunnel built. The French chap died of a heart attack before the tunnel was finished.
The lakeside roads of course are beautiful and the mountain passes pretty exciting, especially when the brakes start to smoke down the long steep descents.
They really are a great experience and well worth the 40 francs (about £20) you have to pay for the road tax.