Day 48, Part 2 - Lindau

Lindau is a little island on the eastern part of Lake Constance. It is most well-known for what is pictured above - the port whose entrance is guarded by a lighthouse and a large statue of a lion (the symbol of the Bodensee or Lake Constance). The island is a hot-spot for tourists which meant that it was very busy with people and booths selling souvenirs filling the streets. The view of the lake was great, but the most astounding was looking back over the Bodensee toward Bregenz and seeing the Alps stamped above the green mountains like a faded water-mark. We've been told that on a really clear day you can see snow on the Alps. I tried to capture the experience in dozens of pictures, but they just didn't come out right.

In addition to beautiful views of the lake and nearby Austria, we were able to walk through passages built in the 1600s and one built to commemorate the Thirty Years War. There were churches and gardens of the usual variety to see as well. We lost our way a little on our map, but it didn't matter because the island is only a mile long at best. I particularly liked the Thieves Tower, a medieval prison and watch tower that had a long braided rope dangling out of one of the windows as if they were taking precautions again someone accidentally getting stuck in there. I kept waiting for Rapunzel to lean her head out the window and wave.

After meandering about the island, Todd and I told Therese we would go to a park so she could play. We had seen one coming into the train station. The trouble was that we couldn't remember exactly which direction it was. We walked back to the train station, then along the tracks, then up over a bridge and through a parking lot. Eventually we made our way back over another bridge and down a hill where we finally found the playground. If we had only walked about 5 feet and made a left from where we started, we would have been in the park. Oh well. Reese enjoyed trying out all three slides and climbing up ladders and riding a little metal horse. It started to look like rain so we headed back home a little earlier than we had planned. We topped the day off with a yufka and a pizza from our new favorite little place (Atkas Kebap). Therese went to bed early and didn't make a peep all night :-).

A view of the lakefront and the old lighthouse (all the way to the right) from the harbor

This passage in the building ahead was built in the 1600s. It was very short compared to modern ones.

The Thieves Tower

Reese at the park