Ilona Cole, Guest Author, Story 180

AN EXCITING JOURNEY TO LAKE CONSTANCE

It was the beginning of a beautiful summer in 1938. Our Mrs. Kramer is taking a week’s vacation to get together with her two sisters. The older sister, Maria and the younger one, Marga. Both live quite a distance from here. She will drive her beautiful car, pick up her sister Marga in Baden Baden, in the Black Forest and drive all the way down to the (Bodensee, German) Lake Constance, English. Her sister Maria has a Pansion (a B and B) in Constance with a charming Café.

When my sister Friedl and I, Ilona heard this, we were very sad, we will miss our Mrs. Kramer very much… a whole week?

At the dinner table that evening Mrs. Kramer told us about the trip and also told us, after looking at our sad faces, that she received our parent’s permission for us to come along. Oh, there was so much joy around the table! We will start our journey this Friday morning to the Black Forest, to pick up the sister, Marga. After, we will be on our way to Constance with one night of rest. We should get to Maria’s by Saturday afternoon. Of course, it was too late for lunch and too early for dinner, but we were hungry. But by the time all the greetings and introductions were done and our suitcases were delivered to our rooms, it was time to freshen up and get dressed for dinner.

We entered a beautiful dining room, lighted candles on all the tables and Maria leading us to our table, set for five. She was by the entry of the dining room with a beautiful smile and menu for the guests coming in. She will join us a little later. Since Maria knew, that we must be hungry after our long journey, she arranged with the chef something for now for us to pick on, until we have ordered our dinner. Everything looked good on the menu, we could not decide.

Our Mrs. Kramer offered to order for us all? We were happy about that and agreed.

A big platter with some fine, smoked seafood, beautiful, arrived at our table, with  salmon, big shrimp, bueckling (smoked trout), a delicious sauce made with cream, apple, grated, and little horseradish, black bread with butter, and a bottle of Domain & Chandon. Friedl and I were allowed a little in the glass and our waiter filled ours up with soda.  Just for the toast. This looked and also tasted yummy. By now, Maria had traded places with a young lady by the entry and joined us. It was a congenial group, with conversation, laughter and love. So happy to be together.

Maria started the conversation about keeping us busy during our week here. She had gotten tickets (five) for a summer concert tomorrow at the big beautiful meadow by Lake Constance. The Guest Conductor is Victor Alberto de Sabata, conducting Wagner’s overtures from Lohengren, Wallcure and Tannhauser. All kinds of pleasurable noises around our table. Friedl and I loved that kind of music.

Another day will be filled with a boat ride on Lake Constance to the island of Mainau, to see and admire all the most beautiful flowers blooming there, this island is known for. Lake Constance is an awesome, breathtaking lake, it is 40 miles long and 9 miles wide, making it the largest lake in the German speaking world. As a young man my father enjoyed vacations there sailing on that beautiful lake.

Our Mrs. Kramer would like to have one day for shopping, especially for Friedl and for me, she had a beautiful smile on her face, looking at us.

Two waiters brought our food, it looked and smelled great. Big plates, beautifully arranged food, slices of beef tenderloin roast, a dark shiny sauce, and arranged in a circle a melange of vegetables in a butter sauce and potatoes “Anna.” So beautiful to look at.

I have to admit, it tasted yummy, but like always it was too much for me. But our Mrs. Kramer would honor that, since someone else dished it up for me. The dinner was memorable  and delicious! All, including Ilona enjoyed. The three ladies ordered coffee and we awaited the dessert. The desserts were rather simple, but the presentation! On a beautiful, large plate, in the center a basket made of “melt in your mouth” crust filled with large, ripe raspberries, sprinkled with cognac and out of gold leaf a cut, round doily to cover the berries. Lovely and a lot of work, not to mention, expensive. We were staring at it, amazed but had nothing to utter. It tasted yummy, the doily was eatable.

Maria revealed that she has the week off and loves to join us. It was today a perfect day. As we said our “Good night” we were looking forward already to tomorrow.

The week was full of adventure and it was awesome to explore this little, most beautiful corner of the world. The time went fast, our Mrs. Kramer, Friedl and I enjoyed our shopping trip in the city. We loved our gorgeous summer dresses, white cotton batiste with a little light blue embroidery on the sleeves and around the hem, were fitting us nicely. And, of course, hats! They were white straw hats, wide brims and looked beautiful. And as I had promised, I will wear mine into our home, when we arrive next Saturday. More, I can not promise.