Being at Lake Constanze following the traces of Lola Montez and flying with a Zeppelin (Goodyear Blimp) the swarm also visited famous Island Mainau. The Flower-Island. Which has been taken over by the Ducks.
We took the Fast Ferry to the town Constanze from Friedrichshafen (which we had to pay extra for) which gave us more time on the Island. We went ashore at the town of Konstanz and after walking in the harbor area took the bus to the island.
Sheila checked the safety on board.
A newer Statue to the left of the harbour entrance: the so called Imperia. It depicts an alley cat who was quite busy during the Council of Constance. Partly very influentual women during the medievally times even in the courts of emperors and in the Vatikan. Or later Lola Montez in Munich or Melusine von der Schulenburg in England.
We could then use our Deutschlandticket in the Bus to the entrance of the Island which is on the side of Constance headland.
We entered the vast compound, paid the entrance fee, queued for the souvenir photo
and walked over the narrow bridge.
St. Nepomuk at the entrance. And a Blesshuhn.
On the bridge we saw two real “Haubentaucher” swimming and diving below the bridge. I had to think about this TV show. (starts at 2:50 minutes) and the Tegernsee.
As we heard rumors, that the island was taken over by Ducks, we started to look for them right away. And found them soon.
The chicks are flirty, attractive Ladies which always need new clothes from the gardeners. Like the whole island.
The park and gardens on the island offer a lot of plants and flowers to see. There are also, animals, rare trees like Sequoias form California, Butterflies , Orchids and playgrounds for the kids.
And there is the splendid Castle, home of the Counts Bernadotte. (Of Wisborg, no royal highnesses any more; after Gustaf Lennart Nicolaus Paul Bernadotte renounced his claims after marrying a women who was not on a par with him; grandson of Swedish King Gustav V.)
The Island became a popular tourist place during Nazi rule before WWII and was planned to be used as recreation home for higher German officer during and after WWII.
Hitlers Armaments minister Speer had casted an eye on the island which, due the high costs, was hard to maintain for the Bernadotte Family (linked to Napolean, the Swedish Royals
(Lennart grew up at his grandmother Queen Viktoria Of Sweden)
Sissy during the sunny day took a dip in one of the many fountains.
and the Wittelsbacher Dynasty … Auguste…). The castle and former monastery were then used as hospital after WWII by the French for a short time.
Last but not least, there is a great coffee shop next to the Palm Garden. Here Sheila got an excellent Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte. One of the best she ever had. I had to get her a second piece this time.
When we had accomplihed our assignment and left, It was still early enough to catch a ship to the famous town Meersburg and to make another stop there. Here we used our regular ferry ticket which we baught the day before.
Credit: Maps Icons ColIlection, https://mapicons.mapsmarker.com/
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