Meersburg
The first day of my vacation was a long one – or, to be accurate, two. I don’t think I’ve ever flown to Europe and spent the first night in the city where I have landed. That would be too easy. This year was no different. After two planes, a train, a bus, and a ferry, we arrived at our first destination: Meersburg, a small town on the German side of Bodensee.
Meersburg was delightful. It was quiet and beautiful, the perfect place to get over our jetlag and ease into our vacation. We hiked, we swam (in the lake, to my delight), we visited the local sights, and we generally just had a wonderful time. We also marvelled at the zeppelins constantly floating overhead because, really, in 2014 where else do you see zeppelins on a daily basis?
An almost as exciting – though not as frequent sight – were the glimpses we got of the Swiss Alps on the other side of the lake. There are few things more lovely at dusk than purple-pink mountains.
Alps!
Mainau Island
View to Birnau from Unteruhldingen
View of Meersburg from the lake
This was my first visit to this region of Germany but I know I’ll be back again. The water, the vineyards, the hiking paths, and the nearby mountains provide all the things I could want in a holiday destination.
The Captive Reader 
Beautiful, Claire. I love your travelogues and taking me along as an armchair traveler. 🙂
I want to go there – RIGHT NOW! It’s gorgeous and looks so peaceful, unlike my neighborhood in Philadelphia!
Alan and I holidayed in this region frequently. Bodensee is a delight. Jutta’s niece lives andteaches in one of the lakeside towns, Constance or possibly Lindau.
Sorry, I omitted to say Jutta is my adoptive sister.
Yay, pictures! Goodness, it looks lovely.
Gorgeous! I’m so jealous that you got to go swimming in a lake — I can’t even think when the last time was that I swam in a lake. And everything looks beautiful.
These are amazing! Thanks for sharing them with us.