Return to Schwetzingen Palace Gardens

Because I realised that we had seen less than half of Swetzingen Gardens on our last visit I was determined to return It was the place that impressed me most on this holiday. We set off early to avoid the intensity of heat from midday on. It was already 30 degrees when we got there. Our plan was to have a German breakfast but those on offer at the cafe outside Schwetzinger Palace were too big for our dainty appetites so we settled for a more French-style meal - baguette and croissant with butter and jam. And it was sufficient to set us off on our walk.

We went to the right of the Palace this time to see the area we had missed.

This brought us to the Temple of Apollo which is set on top of terraced walls. Set inside the garden folly is a statue of the Greek god Apollo, god of the arts and of light. He looks down to a fountain which ends in a rounded lawn.

There are a number of passageways under the temple leading to various levels and providing much needed coolness!

Fionnuala, having emerged from underground, was not aware of being shot!

This wild boar being attacked by dogs is below at the back of the temple.

Next the Bath House - in sore need of a bath (cool water!) but not to be. All room were roped off and we were allowed to look not partake!

Again oblivious of the photographer. Indeed I think the photographer was oblivious of  me.

This time I presented myself for a photo! Before going into the Bath House we had to put on these enormous felt slippers. It was only when we found that they were impossible to walk in that we realised we were supposed to keep our own shoes on. That did not make them any easier to walk in so we had to shuffle along. Seemingly it was for conservation reasons but I think it was a sneaky way of getting the floors polished!


Inside we could look but no photos. It consisted of 4 rooms I think -entrance, sitting, bedroom and bathroom. The bathroom was huge with steps down to the bath that would accommodate about 4 or 5. Behind the bath house was an aviary and avial fountain. In the centre of the fountain spitting water was an owl and ranged along the top of the aviary were all sorts of birds souting water at the owl. it was nice!

Panel and ceiling of panel in the aviary. The aviary had lots of exotic small birds with colourful plumage and German names. No photos of them.

Not far from the aviary was a tunnel at the end of which there was an optical illusion. We managed to make our way to the back to peer in and see it was a mural. Looking down the tunnel, it had a 3D effect. It was quite effective.

We were now looking for the Tempel der Botanik and the Water Castle and the walk, aside from the sun, was really nice.

Tempel der Botanik

Some lovely views from up in the Water Castle!

We continued our lovely walk, though it was getting a bit too hot and there were few places of shelter, until we finally found the Lapidarium which allowed us in the entrance but the room with the statues was closed (but we could see through) as was the orangerie.

Back to the cafe for the best drink of the day - a large chilled sparkling water!

The Zoo and Gardens in Karlsruhe

Yesterday we did a circular trip from Walldorf to Stuttgart and back again. There was some nice hilly scenery and perfectly set out vineyards. It was nice but not breath-taking! It meant we avoided the intense heat. Early in the trip we passed a cornfield with the most beautiful wild flowers alongside.

The highlight of that trip as far as I was concerned!

Today, eventhough it was 31 degrees at 9.30 am, another sedentary day could not be contemplated so we went to the zoo/gardens in Karlsruhe. Lovely! We could walk in the shade for most of it so it was very enjoyable.

The gardens and zoo are set out around 2 biggish lakes - Schwanensee (but we saw no swans) and Stadtgartensee and a third smaller lake, Ludwigsee.

First of all a comment on the appropriate dress code of the day given that it was 36 degrees and only 11 am!

Tempting as it was, we remained clothed for fear certain exposed areas might react badly to the sun!












Going in a clockwise direction from the Ticket Office (where we got our first seniors' tickets of the trip!) these are all the things we saw:

On Schwanensee there were what they called Gondoletta, little boats in which you sat as they moved along a pre-determined path without any sffort from you. The system must have been underwater because we could not see it. It might have been nice but they moved so slowly that it would have been too hot.

 I love this idea. A container of books from which you can select to read and swap for another book. It's an honesty system. The only place I have seen this in Ireland is on the Buncrana walk around the coast.

And on to the Japanese Garden which was what I really wanted to see. There was little colour but it is very pretty.

Following that there was a garden for the deaf and blind. I'm not sure if that works. We then came to the first of a games area for giant draughts and chess.

The last game obviously had a bad loser!

And on to the Rose Garden. The roses were wilting a little in the very hot weather and not looking their best.

A thorn among the roses! Or a thorn in Jim's side!!

What a wonderful thing ...

The Stadtgartensee and more boats on the same system. There are lots of play areas for children even a kinderautobahn where doting mothers took pictures of their offspring as they drove by carefully instructed by their fathers.

We went into the smelephant's indoor abode and, despite it being cooler, we were glad to emerge. The elephant (3 of them) were out with a keeper spraying them to cool them down. This elephant could have done with some cooling down!

What a lovely job - shovelling elephant shit!

Big birds!

Overcome with heat!

We had to climb up quite a steep path to find the owls but it was worth it!

And finally an interesting fountain, a trip to the shop for chilled water and home to escape the growing heat. It's 38 degrees as I write and it's 6 pm!!