15 April 2015 - Uberlingen: a good day for ice creams!

Tee-shirt weather continues and it is so nice and warm that we actually think we did see a snake yesterday.  I was busily telling the kids that there is no danger of snakes here but Annika and I did see a steel grey reptile slithering through the undergrowth of slashed blackberries at the path side.  After googling to make sure that our possible sighting WASN'T possible - we didn't want to think there might be snakes here -  there is a possibility it was a common adder which has haemotoxic venom.  I didn't really want to know that as I had thought we were safe!  Indeed we probably were safe until now when the weather is warm and it is hard to believe when we arrived here we were still wearing coats, scarves and beanies!  Ignorance is bliss!  So, now we will keep to the paths and resist the off piste adventures!

Luke worked well this morning and just as we had nearly finished what I required of him, the door bell rang and it was the postie with a parcel for him from his best buddy!! Ecstatic is an under-description of his reception of the parcel.  He now has a few more Lego mini figures, Star Wars literature and more Pokemon cards.  He is as happy as could be!  Thanks Liam!  It is difficult for Luke living as the only little person in a big people's world immersed in conversation way beyond his years and keeping up with the pace.  I have to remind myself that he still needs 7 year old play time and he had this today well and truly!

We tootled off in our car to Uberlingen, another beautiful Bodensee town mid-afternoon.  There is a great walking path by the lake which was well utilised.  We parked about 1.5kms from town and we keen to make use of the sunshine and walk! We remarked that it was good to be there on a week day rather than a weekend day because of crowds.

I am inspired for next spring in my garden at home!

Canal reflections

Water equals adventure!  On a sunny day it is so tempting to take a few risks, especially as it wouldn't matter if you fell in - which they didn't this time!!

Balancing beam?!

Of course he didn't fall in.

 At the risk of being boring I can't help taking photos of all these lovely historic buildings with their wobbly lintels and attics.  I reckon those attics would get pretty hot in the summer even with great insulation.

Oh the history.....

So neat and clean!

Unlike a "normal" beach there is no sand but a rounded rocky shore (moraine from glacier mentioned yesterday) and there were dozens of little rock castles as opposed to sand castles on the shore!  I guess you have to build something at the beach when you have had enough of the water! 

Rock castles!

"We three kings of orient are..."

Uberlingen, being on the shores of the lake has been settled since the Stone Age, and also has Roman times relics.  The main historic buildings which can be seen today were built in 1300's although some were destroyed by a great fire in the latter half of that century. The Cathedral or Münster of St. Nikolaus is the largest Medieval building in the region. The church has a large wooden altar carved by Jörg Zürn in the late Renaissance.  There are several other very ornate carvings in the cathedral which were lit up by the late afternoon sun.

Munster of St Nikolaus

Stain glass lit by afternoon sun.

Carved altar in the cathedral.

There is a rather unusual sculpture fountain at the boat landing by Peter Lenk.  It is 10 metres tall and has the most unflattering mermaids who are nude old women!

Peter Lenk sculpture

It was definitely ice cream weather according to the kids and we agreed!  Our latest discovery is packs of 10 mini mini Magnums (after dinner classics!) which I had never seen in Australia but have just the right amount of ice cream without feeling too indulgent. Perfect!

Happy as a lark!

Luke just loving the water!

My dream house, looking over the Bodensee!

We stopped at several playgrounds on our walk back to the car which thrilled Luke.  The kids also stopped at a pool by the side of the lake.  The sign said something about health bath and several elderly women took off their shoes and socks and walked around in it!  When we got home and researched a little we discovered than Uberlingen is known for its spa waters and so that it what the pool was about!  Fancy that!

I looked out of the kitchen window when I was cooking dinner to see a horse and cart trotting by!