We left Freiburg at around noon on Sunday, heading towards Konstanz, the largest city on the Bodensee. Known as Lake Constance in English, this lake is bordered by Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Konstanz is at the spot where the Rhine (which marks the border between Germany and Switzerland) flows into the Bondensee. However, Konstanz lies on the traditionally "Swiss" south side of the Rhine, making it effectively an enclave. Its geographic location and proximity to Switzerland allowed it to avoid being bombed in WWII, so it still has many beautiful original medieval buildings in the old town.
We were completely unaware of this when we decided to go to Konstanz, but there was a huge festival going on that day! Different community groups from all over the region dressed up to take part in the parade through the old town. It was a bit of a surprise when we saw this when we arrived at the train platform:
I'm so glad we decided to go to Konstanz that afternoon. We had originally wanted to go because it was on the way to Zurich and we wanted to visit the Bodensee. The parade was very colourful and the people were having so much fun! What a great place to be a kid: many of the paraders had bags full of candy they would toss to small children. People from different groups would start dancing with each other - an old witch with a green smurf-like creature - or whacking each other playfully with their brooms or canes. Cross-dressing was also highly encouraged! They also loved to engage with the crowd (many of whom were also in costume), coming right up to you, dancing with you or sweeping at your feet with their brooms.
Later in the afternoon, I wandered down to the harbour, which has a beautiful view of the Swiss alps across the lake.
As the sun was setting, many people retreated to the pubs or got on a train home. Many of the shops we walked past had set up a dining table in the middle of their store, with the employees sharing diner. As for us, we got back on the train and headed across the border to Zurich.
We were completely unaware of this when we decided to go to Konstanz, but there was a huge festival going on that day! Different community groups from all over the region dressed up to take part in the parade through the old town. It was a bit of a surprise when we saw this when we arrived at the train platform:
I'm so glad we decided to go to Konstanz that afternoon. We had originally wanted to go because it was on the way to Zurich and we wanted to visit the Bodensee. The parade was very colourful and the people were having so much fun! What a great place to be a kid: many of the paraders had bags full of candy they would toss to small children. People from different groups would start dancing with each other - an old witch with a green smurf-like creature - or whacking each other playfully with their brooms or canes. Cross-dressing was also highly encouraged! They also loved to engage with the crowd (many of whom were also in costume), coming right up to you, dancing with you or sweeping at your feet with their brooms.
The parade in Konstanz.
Watching the parade in the old town.
Check out the dates on these buildings (originals!).
Later in the afternoon, I wandered down to the harbour, which has a beautiful view of the Swiss alps across the lake.
As the sun was setting, many people retreated to the pubs or got on a train home. Many of the shops we walked past had set up a dining table in the middle of their store, with the employees sharing diner. As for us, we got back on the train and headed across the border to Zurich.
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