Day 12 – Sat 21 Jun 14, Konstanz

Forecast: 8-24 deg C, mostly cloudy but fine; Listed Distance: 0km; Actual distance: 28km; Cumulative distance: 362km; Av speed: 11.2 km/h

We only really got to sleep about midnight as there were these loud yahoos (wogs of some description) in a unit block next door all trying to compete with each other to see who can be the loudest yobbo in a confined space. We had to close the windows which blocked most of the noise out, but made it very stuffy inside. 

Had Maccas for breakfast as it is just down the road and not quite as expensive as the hotel breakfast; had bacon and egg McMuffins and coffee. After the hotel breakfasts we've been eating the last week or so, we didn't think the small Maccas breakfast would be enough. Sure enough by mornos we were both a bit peckish so found a coffee shop and had coffee and a slicey thingy.

After breakfast we took in the sights and sounds of the ferry terminal and harbour then rode the 200m to the Swiss Border, which is a line on a bike path, just because we could.  We then found a place to secure the bikes and wandered through the Old City.  How old? Well the Romans first settled here in 40AD, so fairly old. Some of the buildings date back to the 15th & 16th century and of course there's a fair percentage of modern stuff too. The streets are cobbled but modern cobbles. St. Stephens Church here is 600 years old this year, but the nearby Basilica is relatively new, only 596 years old!  Both are very impressive (OTT actually) inside and out.  We were fortunate enough to hear the organ playing in St. Stephens. The two were less than 100m apart which seems a bit of an indulgence. Wendy then went back to the hotel on her own - yes she did manage it and didn't get lost once!  Whilst Wendy was “resting”, Greg was reconnoitring the route out of the city for tomorrow as he hates getting lost first thing in the morning! 

After lunch at Maccas we continued our wanderings on the bikes so we could cover more distance and went exploring the northern shores of Lake Konstanz.  It was a beautiful day and there were lots of people out walking, riding, and swimming.   All shapes and sizes were present and not at all shy to flaunt it all.  We arrived back at the hotel about 4:30pm and did some notes and net-surfing.
Then it was time for dinner so we headed off to find a restaurant we had seen on our earlier wanderings.  However, we saw the hotel restaurant's menu and decided to eat in.  This just happened to be the best decision we've made in a while. Saturday night is BBQ night and you get a choice of pork, chicken or steak, complete with a salad buffet.  Greg had the chicken and Wendy had a steak.  Both meals were so good we had to go for a walk after to settle it all.  Of course we had a beer each.  Total cost A$62.50.
Yobbos are at it again, so goodness knows when we'll get to sleep tonight.

Konstanz harbour

Konstanz ferry terminal

The Swiss Border

Pretty cute bronze figurines

Zoo Pharmacy

The Basilica

St Stephens

Bikes rule in Europe

Remnants of the old city wall

Sunworshippers near Petershausen-Ost 

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