January 21 - Bodensee (Lake Constance)

Ron had an interesting conversation with the owner of the Hotel Freieck. It seems the couple have owned the business for 25 years, and saved enough to buy the building in 2005, as the landlord/owner would not invest  in any improvements. They have been busy making numerous improvements, including adding rooms on the second floor where previously there were only conference and event facilities. The lady told us that the road in front of the hotel was the main road from Switzerland to Italy in ancient times. She showed us a stone wall in the breakfast room that dated  from 1575 - the  building was originally the post office. 

Wall in breakfast room dating from 1575

Checked on-line - found out Zeppelin Museum closed on Mondays in this season.  We had originally been scheduled to be in the area on a Sunday when the museum would be open (due to being unable to stay in the house in Trin). Arghhh! Figured we could go Tuesday morning instead.

Set out with lots of snow falling. We only had to travel about 1-1/2 hours, and Ron took it easy on the autobahn. In that short time, we passed through four countries - Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria and into Germany.

We found Schloss Hotel Wasserburg on the shores of Lake Constance (Bodensee), and were very pleased with our rooms. The rooms were large and well-furnished, nice showers in bathroom, great lake views. The building is actually a historic castle.

Pat and Ron - arrival at Schloss Hotel Wasserburg

The  Schloss dog, Mogli, a Rhodesian Ridgeback

The owner started a wonderful fire for us to enjoy

Our Bedroom

Sitting area in bedroom

Outside the restaurant on Bodensee

The owner was a "good salesman", as we had planned to go into Lindau for lunch, but he suggested we might like to have a light bite in his dining room once the chefs arrived, and then a nice dinner later. So we decided to relax (after our "long" 1 1/2 hour journey), and Pat, Mike and Ron had potato soup with sausage in it, and I had lake perch (egli).

Potato soup with sausage

Egli (lake perch) with saffron rice

We then retired to our rooms to rest and watch Obama's inauguration. We had decided to spend three nights instead of our original one. It was a good price and very pleasant accommodation. 

That evening we had dinner in the hotel's lovely dining room, Fuggerstube. Mike had a whole saibling (char), which Herr Weber assured us was swimming in the lake that morning. I had paella, Ron had pork medallions, and Pat wienerschnitzel. Everything was good and very nice service.

Mike's saibling

Mary's paella

Ron's pork medallions

Pat's veal schnitzel (one of the best on the entire trip)

The owners, Harald and Annet Weber, told us about their history of owning a huge beer garden in Munich before buying this hotel a few years ago. It was interesting to hear Herr Weber talk about all the problems of operating a beer garden that is so dependent on weather conditions. Herr Weber also told us about Bodensee (Lake Constance). It is the third largest lake in Europe and is 39 miles long, almost 9 miles at its widest point, and the greatest depth is 827-feet.

After dinner we met in a small lounge outside our rooms to play cards. Unfortunately, the lights were on a timer, and every three minutes or so they would go out. Pat was in the seat nearest to the switch and would continually jump up to turn the lights back on. 

Our card-playing "lounge" with timed lights

We only had to walk a few steps from our card game to our comfy beds.