In 2007, 2008 and 2009, my husband and I spent our summer holidays in different places dotted around Lake Constance. In November 2009, Steve died, and I have not been back there since. Some months ago, RJ was appointed instructor or lecturer at the academy of Bavaria's administration and was asked to hold a seminar in Lindau (where Steve and I were in 2008), on Lake Constance. He suggested I come along, spend the day he would be at the seminar on my own and then have a long weekend there together. It was a good idea, and he was very kind about it, saying he would understand if I'd rather not make the trip with him, but being happy if I did. After thinking about it for a while, I decided to go, and have not regretted it one minute.
Of course, on the Thursday (the day I had to myself while RJ was teaching) I took many pictures, and a few more on the Friday. But I don't have time right now for a more elaborate and thorough account, and therefore I'll show you my favourite pictures from Lindau first:
Thursday morning, shortly after 9.00. This is the entrance to Lindau's harbour as seen from the promenade.
A kingfisher! Not a particularly good shot, but I was so pleased to see this bird in the wild - they are relatively rare, and I can't remember the last time I've spotted one.
Thursday around lunch time. The sun is out now, but you can see how windy it was - the flags are all perfectly straight.
RJ took this on the Friday.
Friday late afternoon.
You'll see and read more about this beautiful place in future posts, and next up will be another book review.
What great photos! Yes, I want to see and know more but the photos here are great! I would have been so happy to have gotten the one of the kingfisher and also of the flags beside the water.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kay! And there are plenty more where those came from :-)
DeleteI love the Italian Lakes and can understand why people have fallen in love with them for centuries. The Kingfisher is beautiful and I just want to be in the last photo and stay there for a long time.
ReplyDeleteOf course, if it had been you, the kingfisher would have been captured in full flight, with the picture being perfectly sharp. Still, I was happy to spot him at all, and that he didn't fly away as soon as I got the camera out.
DeleteLake Constance borders on Germany, Switzerland and Austria but not on Italy. That's a bit further down south :-)
I am ashamed. I looked at the setting and just automatically thought of the Italian Lakes. I'm not even sure why. It's not as if I haven't been to lakes in Switzerland and Germany. In fact as I've been to Fredrichshaven I have probably been to Lake Constance. However it's really the Italian Lakes that I really love because of the atmosphere in the bordering towns. I will try and engage brain before writing in future. In fact I'd better check that Freidrichshaven is on Lake Constance. (come to think of it I should really check that I've spelt the name correctly too!).
DeleteFriedrichshafen is on Lake Constance, not far from Lindau. It is where the famous Zeppelin was invented and built, there is a very interesting Zeppelin museum, and a bit further apart from the town centre is a palace that is still used as a residence by the members of the Royal House of Württemberg (although they have of course lost all royal status with the abdication of the last king of Wuerttemberg at the time of WWI).
DeleteI love this area and have visited different places around the Boden See often because of my relatives who live in Ravensburg. And I am glad you have returned. I love the kingfisher photo....We used to see them streaking along parallel to the Cuyahoga River when we used to canoe there - maybe 30 years ago......But I didn't see them at rest. This is a great picture, Meike.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kristi! I've not been to Ravensburg myself yet, but it seems a very good base for visiting the Bodensee. I'm sure you have been to Mainau, Meersburg and Friedrichshafen as well.
DeleteMany years since we've been to the Bodensee, lovely pictures particularly of the kingfisher.
ReplyDeleteThank you! It seems to be an area that changes little and manages to keep its relaxed, comfortable atmosphere very well.
DeleteIt's so nice that you got to go and have a good time! It looks like the weather cooperated, even if there was wind.
ReplyDeleteIt was good most of the time, with sprinkles on and off on the Thursday but not a drop of rain on the Friday. I was glad I decided to go, too.
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