.jpeg) |
| With my parents in Konstanz |
Following my brief visit home to see the specialist I returned to
Kreuzlingen early this week accompanied by my parents who had planned their
visit for some time.
Arriving late in the evening we skipped onto our train at the airport just as the doors were closing saving a one hour wait for the next.
The following morning I introduced the towns of Kreuzlingen and Konstanz to my mum and dad. In glorious weather we cycled round the 'touristy' areas stopping here and there for a coffee and to take in the views which were particularly picturesque on the lake front.
The next morning we headed off early, having planned to catch the ferry from Konstanz across the lake to visit some of the other towns. With amazing effic
iency we obtained tickets for our route and boarded one of the many
ferries that were 'tooing and froing'. Having headed straight across the lake
we arrived at Meersburg and disembarked. This town, which is built on the side
of a hill offered amazing views over the lake taking in the various towns and
villages around the shore with the backdrop of the Alps. Along the quayside
there were many cafés and restaurants from which afforded comfortable viewing
of the lake and the bustling ferry traffic.
Having covered most of Meersburg we once again boarded a ferry to head for the island of Mainau - not somewhere that we would have thought about had it not been for the advice of locals - who highly recommended it. How right they were. The island is a gardeners paradise. With meticulous planning the island is designed to be a mass of colour all year round. Arriving in late spring we were greeted with 100,000 tulips all reaching skywards in a myriad of colour. Many were laid out in areas creating patterns and designs while others were planted by the thousand in beds along the paths. Having been told to allow two hours for the visit caused some scepticism from my father but he had to agree that two hours was barely enough.
Arriving late in the evening we skipped onto our train at the airport just as the doors were closing saving a one hour wait for the next.
The following morning I introduced the towns of Kreuzlingen and Konstanz to my mum and dad. In glorious weather we cycled round the 'touristy' areas stopping here and there for a coffee and to take in the views which were particularly picturesque on the lake front.
The next morning we headed off early, having planned to catch the ferry from Konstanz across the lake to visit some of the other towns. With amazing effic
 |
| With the traditionally decorated fountains for Easter |
Having covered most of Meersburg we once again boarded a ferry to head for the island of Mainau - not somewhere that we would have thought about had it not been for the advice of locals - who highly recommended it. How right they were. The island is a gardeners paradise. With meticulous planning the island is designed to be a mass of colour all year round. Arriving in late spring we were greeted with 100,000 tulips all reaching skywards in a myriad of colour. Many were laid out in areas creating patterns and designs while others were planted by the thousand in beds along the paths. Having been told to allow two hours for the visit caused some scepticism from my father but he had to agree that two hours was barely enough.
 |
| With a small amount of the tulips! |
Apart from the mass of colour and aroma of fresh flowers the highlight had to
be the butterfly garden. This was an enclosed area where temperatures are
maintained at 26 degrees celsuis during the day and 20 degrees celsuis at
night.
 |
| Me with the decorated trees |
Whilst on the island I was surprised to see an expanse of colour in the
form of knitted sleeves around the trunk and lower limbs of some lakeside
trees. This was something that
I was pleasantly surprised to see as I had learnt about
this in my 'Learning through a Play Based curriculum' module earlier in
the year and therefore was able to link teaching methods at home to ideas here
in Switzerland.
Departing Mainau again on a promptly arriving ferry we headed,
exhausted, back to Krerzlingen for a well-earned bite to eat and home for the
night.
Although I alluded to it earlier, I was really impressed with the organisation and efficiency of the German transport system. We watched as ferry after ferry arrived and departed on time be there 10 or 500 people wanting to board or disembark.
Although I alluded to it earlier, I was really impressed with the organisation and efficiency of the German transport system. We watched as ferry after ferry arrived and departed on time be there 10 or 500 people wanting to board or disembark.
 |
| From Meersburg looking over at Mainau and Konstanz |
Again Switzerland and Germany amaze me!
Stephanie
No comments:
Post a Comment