It’s raining during the night and since it hasn’t stopped in the morning, we sleep in. Then put our raincoats on and walk about 8km towards Latschau, where we take the cable car (it’s unattended, so we have to board ourselves) and go uphill. The adventures begin immediately, as we incidentally get off too early. It adds another hour to our trip, which isn’t by our schedule, but maybe it’s for good since when we reach the top of the mountain the rain has stopped.
We take a morning flight to Zurich. It is a little bit warmer there (15°) than in Riga. There We rent a black VW – with enough space for one bag to fit in a trunk and rest of them on the back seat. We take the freeway to Bodensee, where we leave the freeway to stop at the lake near Rorschach.
One of the reasons behind the decision to take this journey was to visit our friends Nora and Janis in their Mansaura house. We found Naturpark Beverin in central Switzerland and Jeiziberg mountain run in the South of Switzerland. The journey schedule was supplemented with more items gradually. The last bit – Lindau island in Germany was inserted at the end of our journey by Janis and the blizzard 🙂 We visited four countries during the journey – Switzerland, Austria, Lichtenstein and Germany, drove the Furkastrasse at the 2.5km above see level, climbed the 3032m high Klaine Furkahorn. Enjoyed the sun, rain and snow.
A little bit sad farewell to Nora, Janis and Mansaura in the morning. Then following the suggestion of Nora and Janis we drive to St. Gallen. On the way to ir Ilze spots a catholic basilic of Rankwail next to the highway. We noticed it already a day before when passing by on a train. Should take a closer look.
Some day long ago the palace of Montfort counts were located here but nothing has left of it today. The church still has been renovated, fortified and expanded on 1470. Later on Loreto chapel and three store pastorate was added. The basilic sits on a top of hill Liebfrauenberg (the hill of Virgin Maria).
We walk to the basilic uphill by the zigzag path. Something going on in the court there – looks like wedding. The priest takes a shot of the wedding guests. They involve me as well – so the priest can get on the photo as well. We inspect the church from inside, walk up the stairs, and then walk around to see it from outside.
After a quick ride on the highway we are in St. Gallen, leave there the car in a subway parking lot next to the old town. Nora and Janis had not exaggerated – the old town is very beautiful. We take a look inside the cathedral and then stroll stroll the pedestrian streets. It should be great to look at the old town from above so we ascend by streets and stairs to the top of Berneggwald hill South from it.
When almost on the top we are suddenly near the green meadow with cows pasturing and a gorgeous view on the center of St. Gallen.
From St. Gallen we drive to Zurich airport to fly home.
The first activity in the morning is getting rid of the ice on the windscreen of the car.
Following the detailed itinerary prepared by Janis we drive to the train station in Vandans and further take a train to Lindau island in the German side of Bodensee. No snow there – the weather is sunny but rather cold.
Lindau is a typical old German town with pedestrian streets full of shops, ancient houses, town hall with wall paintings, churches. We climb the lighthouse, drop in the bakery (open since 15th Century) for delicious pastry. We stroll the streets of the old town and by the East shore find the bridge to the mainland.
The weather gradually gets warmer. We follow the shore of the Bodensee back to Bregenz in Austria. It takes some 12km to get there. While on the way we find a park with Nordic walking trails. Following trail N10 we reach the border crossing it by a bridge over a stream entering the Bodensee. Everything is decently aranged here – sign “Bavaria” on the German size, “Foralberg” – on the Austrian and “countries border” on the middle of the bridge.
When in Austria we continue by the Bodensee to Bregenz. Shortly before Bregenz we get caught by dirigible that flies high over our heads to the mountains of Austria and Switzerland. Nora informs us later that the airship flies from the dirigible museum in Fridrihshafen.
We take a look at the lake theater in Bregenz where every summer they build and show opera performances. Audience has their seats on the shore while the stage is built on a concrete island about 50-100m from the shore. Nothing on the island for now but one can look at impressive photos of the past performances. We take a train to Bludenz then another one to Vandans. Mansaura is reached at around 8pm in complete darkness. Janis is here and invites for pancakes cooked by Nora. Delicious pancakes with a jam and honey. Nothing left behind 🙂
