Further Explorations of Friedrichshafen
  Pilgrimage to Friedrichshafen - Part 4
Trip to Austria - Chapter XIX


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On the following day, I wanted to take a boat across Bodensee to Bregenz, the capital of the Austrian state Vorarlberg. It was raining when I awoke, so I got up late. Later yet did I walk to the town center. I discovered that a round trip to Bregenz cost more than €20. Given my limited funds, I thought this was probably too much. What if I didn't have enough money to buy food? Unthinkable! I elected to stay in Friedrichshafen. But what would I do with my extra day in this town? I didn't have any idea.

I had not seen the interior of the Schlosskirche, a church on the grounds of an estate on the west side of town. (Amazingly, the church survived World War II mostly undamaged.) I was not allowed to go inside because some sort of private church service was going on at the time.

From the Schlosskirche, I walked northward. Eventually, I came upon the main cemetery for town. Perhaps, I thought, I might find something regarding Zeppelins. I wasn't sure, but I had a feeling there might be something interesting to see.

Only a few minutes later, I discovered a memorial dedicated to the victims of the Hindenburg.
The inscription across the top read, "DEN TOTEN DES LZ-129" ("TO THE DEAD OF THE LZ 129 [HINDENBURG]").
Underneath were six names of crewmembers who were buried there.

Near the Hindenburg memorial, I found Hugo Ecker's grave. He led the Zeppelin company between the World Wars. He was a skilled airship captain, probably the best in history. He was also opposed to the Nazi government, and he objected to the airships being used as propaganda tools. Only Graf Zeppelin himself is a more important figure than Hugo Eckener in the history of German airships. His grave is historic!

I continued northward, to take a look at the Zeppelin G.m.b.H. headquarters. It is just an industrial park nowadays, so I didn't find it very interesting.
On the way, I passed by a building which was used by the Zeppein company in the days of the rigid airships.
I also saw "Zeppelindorf," company housing from the 1920s. The place is still owned by the Zeppelin company.

After I returned to the town center, I shot a few more self portraits with my camera. 
I sat on the Zeppelin fountain.
Three attempts at shooting this picture were failures, until my fourth was a success. On one occasion, I wounded my elbow when I jumped from the fountain after the shutter snapped.
I posed before Bodensee.
And of course, I phooned in front of the Zeppelin monument. It was my last phoon of the trip.

After a nap in my tent, I returned to the town center once more. I climbed a tower which gave a view of Friedrichshafen and out over the lake. The Swiss side of the lake was mostly obscurde by mist and rain.

I made a few sketches too. Through the window of the Zeppelin Museum, I could see the Hindenburg reconstruction and what remains of the bow of the LZ 130. I sketched both. I thought that it was probably the only chance I'd ever get to sketch a great Zeppelin on location.

At sundown, I returned to my campsite. I had seen almost the entirety of Friedrichshafen. My pilgrimage was finished.

previous:
Zeppelin Museum
Pilgrimage to Friedrichshafen
next:
Lindau am Bodensee


All materials herein copyright 2006 by Willy Logan
willy@wilhelm-aerospace.org