Email sent :-)

Hi Hambagale! Yes, she's American, but she works for the US Army here, so she's covered by SOFA. She may not be overly concerned with compliance with local laws. But I will say something! Thank you, yes, the car did well!

Yes, I do have a plan to see Mainau. I have a childhood friend who wants to visit, and she is a big flower person. I do intend to go to Mainau with her when she comes over!

Ingo, a GARAGE??? Color me green with envy. Lucky you!! Yes, you're right; there are a ton of gadgets and things to go wrong on the car. The drivers manual is very thick!

Would you also send me your Konstanz info please?? I am interested in seeing it!

Trophywife -- indeed they are. Such a pleasure while the heater gets warmed up


s

A year ago I got a new VW - Golf Hybrid plug in - it came with a heated steering wheel. I questioned the salesman as to why I need one. (Never had one before...). Now I know !! It is so incredibly pleasant in winter. Of course it has heated seats too. I think we take those forgranted.
Swandav - I am eagerly waiting for your trip to Konstanz and Mainau now!!

I have had the same car for 12 years, I have yet to wash the outside.

Swandav - you've got email ;-)

I just came back from Konstanz in December last year. I did do a sort of trip report (https://www.fodors.com/community/eur...025-a-1734192/) but as I was working it wasn't a very tourism-focussed one. Konstanz I must say is an extraordinary location. The architecture is Swiss but culturally it's German, which is almost unbelievable given that it is completely surrounded by Switzerland and the lake. There was a good Christmas market, but I think the town would come into its own in summer, the lake is just amazing.

I did go out to Mainau with the hosts (university), but to see a light show one evening, not flowers. It was very beautiful, although I can't now say much about what Mainau looks like or the views as it was all under darkness. But we did dine on the island at the restaurant Comturey (traditional local fare).

We were given a choice of hotels and I picked and got the Graf Zeppelin, but my other pick would have been Romantik Hotel Barbarossa, which was even closer to the main part of the pedestrian zone. Other people who stayed there were impressed. But I was very happy with my hotel as it was walking distance to the shops and restaurants, and also the bus stops and station. There is a bakery diagonally opposite and the breakfasts are very good, and there is a coffee roastery and a Reformhaus just next door.

Altogether a small, walkable city that is affluent and interesting, and definitely worth a holiday!

Lavandula

Thanks for linking your TR, Lavandula, I'll be checking it out.

Ha ha, time to catch up!

Hambagahle, yes! I love that heated steering wheel! Well, it may be a few years until I'm in Konstanz/Mainau. I am saving it for my friend who loves flowers.

bilboburgler ... no! No. I really can't believe that! I knkw England gets a lot of rain .... but ....??

Danke Ingo!

Lavandula, thanks for your notes on Konstanz! Surely I'll take a look when I begin planning for a trip there. Thise two hotels look charming and so well located! But I have to keep confessing -- I will sacrifice almost every criteria for a hotel to get a view of a lake....

Hope to see all you guys again for my next trip!

s


p.s., a big thank you to everyone for not correcting my title! Überlingen is, of course, in Baden-Württemberg, not Bavaria. Oops.