We enjoyed a cool and comfortable train journey from Leonberg, via Stuttgart to Munich. The landscape along the way was green and lush with lots of crops and contented cows in grassy fields. We stayed in Dachau so that Jim could easily get to the Dachau Concentration Camp on Tuesday. Jim has already told you about that. Not much to report except that we appreciated a couple of nights in air-conditioned comfort – at a price!

At Maria and Sabine‘s suggestion we took a train to a place we had never heard of. It turned out to be one of the prettiest places we have ever visited.  An inspired suggestion.

Lindau is a picturesque town on Lake Constance in Bavaria. Its “old town” on Lindau Island has narrow streets and lanes lined with pretty old houses and public buildings such as the Gothic Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) which has an ornate painted façade. The harbour entrance is guarded by a Bavarian Lion statue and a stone lighthouse dating from the 1800’s. Also on the restaurant lined harbour promenade is the 12th-century Mangturm, a former watchtower with a pointed, tiled roof.

Altes Rathaus (Old Townhall)

Guardians of the town

12th century watchtower

The old town of Lindau covers only 0.68-square-kilometre and is connected with the mainland by a road bridge and a causeway to the railway station. You can walk around the whole island in less than an hour and admire beautiful gardens on the way. Lindau has a distinct Mediterranean atmosphere. You could be in Greece or Italy. It doesn’t feel much like Germany except for the language.

Evening light

Colourful street scenes

Harbour promenade

Breakfast outside Anker Hotel

We thoroughly enjoyed a 90-minute cruise on Lake Constance. As well as numerous craft on the water, we also saw the silty mouth of the Rhine where it joins Lake Constance. There are mountains all around, some still with snow caps and the colour of the water is a stunning blue. Later a cold beer on the waterfront watching the world go by before dinner at a recommended pizza place. We really did feel like we were in Italy – but not yet!

It’s cool on the water!

Along with vibrant street scenes and many quirky shops Lindau has a range of restaurants and bars. Serving mostly traditional Bavarian or Italian dishes you can also find Greek, vegetarian and delicious bakeries and delis if you want to make your own. We try to keep the cost down by choosing hotels and guesthouses that provide a good breakfast and packing a lunch of rolls, fruit and maybe a pastry or two. Breakfast at the Anker Hotel in Lindau was particularly generous with cereals, meats and cheeses, eggs, a variety of breads and pastries and of course coffee, tea and juices. Easily enough to set us up for the day. Combined with the setting outside in the early morning it was one of our favourite times of the day. There is something special about watching the town wake up. Kids going to school, locals greeting each other while walking their dogs and shop-owners opening the shutters for another day. And all with not a tourist in sight– apart from ourselves.

Another highlight for Jim was this restaurant which he tells me had millions of dollars worth of classic cars and even tractors mounted on the walls and throughout. Pretty cool Felix!

Lindau was an absolute highlight of our trip. We took so many pics of this photogenic place that it has been almost impossible to choose which ones to include. We would love to go back at Christmas when there is snow all around and the town comes alive with decorations, markets and music. Who knows? Maybe we will.

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Eil. Gut.Halles Restaurant:    https://www.eilguthalle.li/de/

Lindau history:  https://www.mygermancity.com/lindau