Day 25: Bregenz

 Day 25 Friday 5th July 

Bregenz tour

The day started late as we had been awake on and off during the night listening to the election coverage. By 6am we were watching the BBC as the main seats were won and lost. As a result the rest of the day we felt pretty tired. 

Bregenz is a small city famous for its summer opera programme featuring a floating stage on Lake Constance each July. It is bordered by Germany, Switzerland and very close to Liechtenstein. The lake affords opportunity for water sports and activities.

We followed the hour long explorers trail that took in the medieval city, cobbled streets and attractive painted buildings. 

St Martin’s tower museum which was a watchtower had a covered wooden staircase and a baroque onion dome. 

Castle Hohenbregenz was a fortress but today only the walls remain. 

As we walked around the pretty streets we were aware how clean and orderly a place this is . People walk around slowly, there is  no litter and people seem happy. It is a wealthy place. 

We stopped for a beer in an inn near the centre before Neil went to see the ‘holy bucket of Bregenz’.

Meanwhile I wandered in the centre. We people watched before finding a local restaurant for an early dinner. 

After the meal we walked by the lake passing the Milchpilz ( milk mushroom) a kiosk in the shape of a toadstool that has been selling milkshakes , icecream and snacks since 1950.

Returning to the apartment we found our hosts enjoying a drink in their wooden summer house in the garden. A pleasant hour or two passed quickly as we chatted about our respective lives, political opinions and families.