Labor Day Weekend (Aug 30 -Sep 2, 2013)

If things had gone as the government promised this would have been a 4 day weekend, but darn if they didn't break their word, so no furlough days.

But, not like it was going to be a total waste, so plans were altered but still a good weekend. Admittedly, the weekend started early...really early (meeting at 6:30 am at the park and ride to be on our way). It was still dark out when I left my house, so this was my morning sight:

First stop: Cuijk, Holland. This actually is a pretty part of Holland (Netherlands, or whatever it is being calling at the time). This is barely into Holland and near the Aachen, Germany area. We didn't go here for the beauty though...no, we went for the flea market, and oh what a wonderful place it is. There are all sorts of things at this market...old, new, from castles, from backyards, who knows. There are surprises around every corner. For me, it was a search to find just the right milk can to hold meter sticks in my classroom. For Jeanne and Jennifer it was a different story. But we all seemed to walk away from it happy. (Yes, I got my milk can...and it is beautiful; a lovely brass can that will look wonderful in my classroom).

At any rate, here are a few pictures of the variety (believe it or not, I didn't take too many pictures)

Admittedly, not the most exciting pictures, but kind of a variety...although they have food, furniture, yarn, hats, you name it. To say the least it was in an interesting day, and yes, I left with money still in my pocket, but I got what I went there to get (plus a few plants). Then it was time to go home, and attempt to get to sleep early for the drive to Bodensee (Lake Constance)

Sunday, September 1, 2013: Up not, so early (thank goodness). Once I got to Jeanne's we backtracked and were on our way to Ludwigshafen am Bodensee (Lake Contance). Personally, I love this area, and the day was showing to be a good day for the trip. Yes, it was kind of overcast, but no real rain, and the countryside was beautiful. We got in at about 12:30 pm so after checking in to the hotel

we went for a stroll around the village in search of someplace to eat. Sure we could have eaten at the restaurant at the hotel, but that was too easy (besides I wanted to see the view of the lake and Jeanne was right that we could easily eat there for dinner if we wanted). 

We ended up at the Aquarama. We had an amazing view and a wonderful lunch to boot. (I got gnocchi with fresh basil, mozzarella, and tomatoes, can we say YUM!).

This was our view, while we dined, from the patio of the restaurant (which by the way, I would happily go back to any time I am in the Lake Constance area). 

Once we were done with lunch (and a little rain shower...which we just watched from our patio table that was under the awning), we took a little stroll and took in some of the sights of the lake. Keep in mind that Ludwigshafen am Bodensee (aka Bodman-Ludwigshafen) is just one of many villages that are on Lake Constance (Bodensee). The lake is surrounded by three countries (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland) and has a variety of interesting aspects. We were at the Lake to go to Isle of Mainau, but there are also some neolithic and bronze age pile dwellings along the lake, castles, painted buildings and so much more. Needless to say, it is a place that I will go back to, as I keep finding more interesting things about the area. But for this weekend, it was a matter of leisure and visiting the lovely Isle of Mainau (the flower island).

the train station

 While strolling around we came upon this relief (by Peter Lenk) titled "Louis Heritage" it is an interesting relief to say the least. It depicts many of the German politicians, in the nude, among other scenes.

I love the windows in this building

Everywhere you look, fruit filled trees (pears, apples, quince abound)

Bellies full, we decided to go back to the room. But, there was a church right next door. (believe me we knew there was a church; the bells seemed to ring every few minutes). Knowing the Europe is a wondrous place when it comes to churches...they actually leave their doors open for people to go in anytime...can you imagine that happening in the States (nope, I cant) So while Jeanne relaxed for a bit, I went wondering to the church and a few places.

Loved this little store. It had fresh fruits and veggies, jams, honey, wine, schnapps, cheese, all sorts of things.

When it was starting to get to that time to be able to hopefully see a wonderful sunset we walked back down to the lake. Where we saw a bit more, had a beer, and hoped for the best (it didn't quite work out though as the clouds decided to grow together so it just became overcast).

interesting door

Jeanne in a very cool old tree

Instead of cutting down old trees, they help prop them up...very cool

ruins across the lake by Bodman

Little beer/wine stand

The happy soul working the beer stand...he was drinking and singing...must like his job :)

Monday...after a very restful night (I actually slept till about 8 am...shocker...it was a nice surprise) we got up, had some breakfast and then were off to Mainau. (of course we had to stop first to buy some apples, plums, and pears)

First things first, a little background info on Isle of Mainau: Count Lennart Bernadotte (the grandson of King Gustaf V of Sweden) strongly shaped the present day Mainau. As with any royal story this one started as a love story of sorts. In 1932 Count Bernadotte married this true love, Karin Nisswandt, against his parents' wishes and without royal consent. Alas, she was a commoner, making Count Bernadotte ineligible to become king according to Swedish Law; he also gave up his title as Prince.

In that same year Lennart and his wife moved to Mainau, which had belonged to his grandmother, Queen Viktoria, daughter of Grand Duke Friedrich I of Baden (the island had fallen into Swedish possession during the Thirty Years War, then to the Teutonic Order, etc), and began to work on making it the beautiful island of flowers that it is today.

The castle/palace on the 111 acre island was finished in 1746 in the Baroque style. In 1827 Hungarian Prince Nikolaus III bought the island and brought some rare plants to it. In 1853 Duke Friedrich I of Baden bought the island. He traveled a lot and brought many trees from other countries to Mainau, which laid the foundation for a lot of the present day landscape. Some of the present trees are over 150 years old.

When Lennart and his wife went to Mainau in 1932 the vegetation had run a muck so he started to work on the island and opened it for the public to visit. During Lennart's 70-years on the island his work was extensive; approximately 350,000 flowers bloom there every summer. The island collection includes 6,000 types of orchids, 800 species of hyacinth, 300 varieties of rhododendron and 30,000 rose bushes. During the fall there are hundreds of varieties of dahlia (approximately 270 this year) in summer a quarter million sunflowers, and in the Spring millions of tulips bloom.

Besides the beautiful views on the island on some days the Swiss Alps can be seen. There are gardens, petting area, a palm house that was built so that the palm trees by the palace could grow (you can have a lovely kuchen and kaffee sitting in the area) and a butterfly house that is one of the largest in central Europe.

In 1974 Lennart created a foundation (the Lennart-Bernadotte Foundation), which holds the island in trust so that it will remain a beauty that the public can continue to visit, ending the possibility of some rich person buying it and closing it off from others.

So all of that being said, I will leave you to some of the pictures from this visit.

The Swedish Cross - it was left behind in 1647 when the Swedes left the island

I love these tables...not only do you have flowers all down the center, but there are trees growing from the centers as well, and many are heavily laden with fruit.

The chapel on the island

This has got to be one of the coolest public bathrooms I have ever been in (hundreds of led lights twinkling like stars on the ceiling and marble walls and floors that reflect the light)

he must have gotten a sticker in his foot going through the rose garden

great view of the palm house next to the palace and chapel

There are thousands of glass tiles that go down this center area...the water then falls over it and its way down to a little fountain at the bottom.

a small section of the tiles on the center water spill

Looking up the water spill

The water in the lake is amazingly clear

I did not post a lot of the dahlia pictures here, mainly because I have decided, as a personal small challenge, I will go back sometime soon, and take a picture of all 273 varieties of dahlias...why, you might ask. Because I want to.