These photos are from the Mainau, Konstanz trip.


From left to right: Bro. & Sis. Hutchinson, Diana,Sis. Duke, E. Horlacher (hat), E. Schwimmer, Sis. Schimmer, E. Duke, Bro. & Sis. Graessli, and Sis. Horlacher.

APRIL 24, 2009 FRIDAY

We were up an on our way to the Zurich bahnhof before 8:00 so we could catch our train to Konstanz at 8:37. We gave ourselves plenty of time so, if there was any delay on the tram, we wouldn’t have to be running etc. Once on we enjoyed a leisurely ride through the country, sometimes reading the BM and sometimes the daily free newspapers to catch up on the news as well as improve our German. We’re always working on our German. The train stopped at a few towns to exchange passengers and after one such stop, we looked up and saw a man with a missionary name tag on walking down the aisle. Brother Hutchinson and his wife had got on at the last stop, one of the couples we were to rendezvous with in Konstanz. He was surprised to see us as we were him. He got his wife who was sitting further away and both came and sat by us. We visited and got acquainted as we traveled on. They are a couple from Bountiful, have been on their mission for about five months and are stationed in Ebnat Kappel, a small branch with about 15 active members. They are doing about the same kind of work we are doing.

We made it to Konstanz and arrived about an hour early so we checked a few thing and then went across the street to a shopping mall to window shop for awhile. We saw some wonderful looking bakery goodies, but refrained from buying any. As it turned out we couldn’t have bought anything anyway because in Germany, they only take Euros, the European Union money. Switzerland is not a part of the Union so still uses Francs. When it was time we went back across the road to the train station and met the rest of the couples for the excursion. The couples names are as follows: Brother & Sister Duke, Schwimmer, Horlacher, Hutchinson, Graessli and us, twelve people in all. We exchanged some money in the bahnhof and then we were set. The hardest part of any planning is to get all the people wanting to do the same thing. The more there are, the harder it is and the longer it takes. We all agreed we wanted to go the Minau Flower Garden which encompassed a whole island not far from where we were. Should we go by ship, bus or car? After a lot of discussion by the ones most vocal, since we had three cars already, it was decided we could get there quicker and easier by car, two couples in each car. So finally, away we went.

After parking we walked across the long bridge to the Island. We had just enough to get a discount as a group and then our tour began. There were graveled walkways and paths on which we wandered around to our hearts content. Sometimes we walked along the shore of Lake Konstanz which is a big enormous lake and sometimes we wandered further inland. There were many many flowers in bloom and some were growing on large forms in the shape such as a Peacock, ducks and a flower with a face on it. It’s hard to describe the many types of flowers flower gardens that were there. It was very peaceful walking among the trees and flowers, looking at their delicate petals and smelling the perfume and scent in the air. We saw a long cascading waterfall bordered by two rows of flowers that was very picturesque. We finally arrived at our halfway point, the Schloss Restaurant. Everyone wanted to eat, so we did. This is the first time we’ve eaten out since we’ve been in Switzerland. Diana chose breaded pork cutlets with french fries while I had Grandmother’s Beef Rouladin, red cabbage salad and pasta. I wasn’t too impressed with mine except for the red cabbage, but Diana enjoyed hers, especially the french fries. Cost of our meals was 24.50 Euros which is somewhere in the neighborhood $35.00 (not exact).

We had been in a souvenir shop just previous and Diana spied some amethyst crystals she just had to have. She hasn’t bought any souvenirs as yet because we won’t be able to take much home with us and she really liked these so she bought one. It is relatively small, but beautiful. We had to be back in Zurich for a meeting with the bishopric at 8:00 so we turned around and leisurely made our way back to the starting point. Even though we were getting pressed for time, when we got to the butterfly house, we had to go in. It was a bubble building so the light could filter in and the inside was like a sub-tropical jungle. There were all kinds of butterflies flying around as well as sitting on feeding stations placed around the walkways. There were also some birds flying around as well. For me it was like being in a fairyland of some sort and it would have been nice to have been able to spend a few hours there. But time was pressing so we left. We, the Horlachers and us, were the last group to arrive at our rendezvous point. We all got together, then walked back over the bridge to the cars. We said our goodbyes and we parted company. The Horlachers drove us back to the train station where we met up with the Hutchinsons again. We had a couple of anxious moments trying to decide if we should be at the Swiss part of the train station or the German side. Our SBB plan from the internet said we should be on track #3, but the sign on the train that was sitting on track #1 appeared to be the one we should take. A train employee came walking by and we verified with him that the one on #1 track was the one we should take back to Zurich. It was also the one the Hutchinsons needed to take to Kreuzlingen where they needed to get off to go back to Ebnat Kappel. The ride back was uneventful, the Hutchisons leaving us at Kreuzlingen.

We arrived home, rested for about an hour, got ready for our meeting with the bishopric, and left. On the way there we stopped at Pres. Bolt’s home to give him his belated birthday present. He wasn’t home so we left the gift in his mailbox. Sound familiar? Then we went on to the Church for our meeting. We got in on the tail end of the Emergency Prepardness program the ward had planned for this evening. We got to attend three workshops and then sample the things that some sisters had made from the storage items. Yes, even here, they are concerned about following the Prophet’s counsel to store a year’s supply of food and water. Finally, at about 9:15, the bishop called us, his counselors and the other missionaries into his office to explain what he would like done on Sunday. We’ll explain that in another journal entry because right now we have to get ready for the display in the square by Oerlikon train station that starts at 10:00 today. We’re sorry we didn’t get this entry written last night, but we just ran out of gas.