Talk:Lake Constance

From Wikitravel

The following first person account was removed from the article. Perhaps someone can use it. -- Huttite 06:15, 28 Dec 2005 (EST)

CROSSING THE BODENSEE

Driving your car onto a big boat to cross a wide body of water is very civilized excitement. My wife and I have crossed the Bodensee (Lake Constance) four times between Konstanz on the south shore and Meersburg on the north. It's a delightful half-hour ride with cars, trucks, motorcycles, motorbikes, bicycles, and pedestrians. The upper-deck lounge sells coffee, sandwiches, snacks, and cold drinks. What more could you want?

The fare depends on the size of your vehicle. A compact car like a Ford Focus or an Opel Astra costs nine euros, about $11 (in September 2005). We've never had to wait -- there was a ferry loading every time we drove onto the slip.

The Bodensee and its shores are very beautiful in a quiet, cultivated way. The views are serene, not spectacular. If you want dramatic scenery, drive a couple of hours to the Alps. If you want to spend a pleasant afternoon swimming and sunbathing, however, go to a beach in Uberlingen. Buy an ice-cream cone. Watch people change into their bathing suits right out in the open (this is Europe, not New Jersey). Doze on the grass. See how many sailboats you can count in one minute. I didn't realize how much I needed this vacation....