We stood in front of a yellow Ferrari parked on the side of the road. Like all Ferraris, it was an ostentatious car that screamed of wealth and probably cost more than my house, but I would soon learn that here, in this country, expensive cars are a dime a dozen.
Across the valley was what I took to be a palace, with a single turret rising high above the trees. It looked like a blend of Disney’s Magic Kingdom and Britain’s Parliament buildings, though much smaller than either.
I asked my friends, who had been working in the country for a few years, about the palace.
“It’s not a palace,” they said. “It’s a bank.”
There’s a lot of money here. This small country — smaller than the smallest American state — has the highest income per capita of any country in the world and the greatest concentration of banks in Europe (more than 220 of them).
We descended the stairs leading some 200 feet (61 m) into the river valley that separated the Ferrari from the palatial bank. As we descended, the city above us disappeared and we entered a world of lush greenery with a river — in actuality more of a creek — running through it.
The valley is a beautiful sanctuary hidden in the middle of an old city with a modern lifestyle. Stone footpaths wind through the park; trees press against ancient stone walls; benches and fountains give the traveler reason to stop.
In front of us, a stone viaduct with a series of small, evenly spaced arches spanned the river valley. The viaduct was built between 1859 and 1861. Behind us, and more impressive, was a newer bridge. When this bridge was completed in 1903, the center arch, with a span of nearly 278 feet (85 m), was the longest stone arch in the world, no doubt a source of pride for this trilingual country.
We wandered beneath the viaduct before returning to the city above, where I hoped to find an ATM before dinner.
Where am I?
Send your answer to goworld@goworldpublishing.com. All readers correctly identifying this location will be entered in a drawing to receive a recently published travel book.
Answer to the July 2007 “Where in the World” Contest
Last month’s mystery destination was Santa Cruz, CA. Our photo showed a tame beginner’s surf spot near downtown.
Thanks to all who wrote in their guesses. This month’s winner is Angie, from Ontario, Canada. Congratulations, Angie! |