Bregenz, Austria
Do you always get the feeling that when you know you have a day off from your daily
role that you get that urge to travel?
A traveller should answer that easily. If you don’t have this urge, then you stay and do the same thing day in, day out. If you do, you want to experience the world, it’s culture, the lifestyle, the food, the people.
I was having this conservation with something at work. People there say that I travel too much and I should rest. Why should I?
So, when I knew I had a day off two weeks ago, I went onto that marvellous cheap-frills website, you guessed it once again, Ryanair and see if I could go somewhere different and for really cheap.
Bregenz, Austria
After much debating around the Deutschland region, it became a choice of Frankfurt Hahn, which the actual airport is 80km away from Frankfurt or to Freidrichshafen on Lake Constance. I choose obvious one. So, today, Saturday 30th September, at 7am I was boarding a flight from London Stansted off to Friedrichshafen. I found out the day before from one of my Swiss friends at my workplace, that the place is named after some guy named Friedrich was very popular many years ago. Some navy person I think he was, but I really should look into this, (which I didn’t get time to) and shafen means Harbour. I am learning Deutsch. My Deutsch sucks!
Anyway, after a delayed start at Stansted, the plane took off, and after flying over Belgium, passes Strasbourg and Frankfurt into the Bodensee region and landing in a small airport which of course is Friedrichshafen.
Bregenz, Austria
After getting off the plane so quickly, within two minutes I was through the passport control (they like to keep looking at the passports don’t they, yes, I do have a pretty face) and straight through the arrivals lounge. I didn’t bother getting local information from the desk there as my mate Oliver from work told me all the information I needed to know and I already checked the travel information on the internet beforehand.
Right, so Deutschland, my 11th country. I have never been here. Already I am impressed with the local area just outside the airport’s doors. The trees, the smell in the air, the quietness of the local traffic. Fantastic. My plan was to board a train from the airport into Friedrichshafen, then change there for a local train eastwards to Lindau, which runs along side the Lake Constance and then change there for a short journey into Austria and arriving in Bregenz.
Bregenz, Austria
I didn’t know the area much, the lifestyle, the language and the behaviour of the local people. I love this. This sense of feeling that you are in a new part of the world, learning and exploring and just having fun.
Anyway, lets get rid of the emotional side of travelling, and move on to the actual days events. It was going to be a long day. I have ten hours in the Bodensee region, so it was time to get a move on, and after travelling into Friedrichshafen Stadt from the airport, for which I must say, the first time I have travelled on a Deutsch train (Die Bahn) I was very impressed and paid the 1’60euro price for a very quick journey. Only five minutes later I was standing on Friedrichshafen Stadt platforms buying a chocolate bar from the vending machine.
I went to the local information office.
Bregenz, Austria
The booking hall was old, I would say early 20th century. It had these big chandeliers there. I quickly went into the local shop there to buy some tacky souvenirs as I knew I would not have much time to shop today. Then after a English conversation in the ticket hall, after been served by an nice German man who admitted to say that my Deutsch sucks, sold me my discounted ticket for Austria. Ok, all this within ten minutes and I boarded the next train which would take me eastwards along the Lake Constance shore to Lindau. My plan was to visit Friedrichshafen before I go back to the airport this evening.
The train to Lindau was smooth, very nice. I had a great view of the local fields and trees. The housing building which I saw was very impressive. Big, colourful, green gardens, this was the way of life it seemed in this region. Slow, peaceful, and everyone had a smile on their face.
Bregenz, Austria
I knew from this point on that I was going to like this place. Lindau. Nice small harbour town this was. I had a great (and first view at this point) of Lake Constance.
From this point, across the lake, I could see the Swiss Alps and Switzerland. I was thinking about going into St Margrethen just inside the Switzerland border, the other side of Bregenz, but I thought I would leave Switzerland for the time being or made be another time. The weather was light rain and low cloud at this point, and I was hoping for a change of weather. At least so I can put my jumper and jeans into my bag and change into a pair of shorts, have a camera around my neck and my rucksack behind me, so that I can look the part of a tourist. So, I didn’t have long to wait into my connection to Bregenz leaves. I would also leave Lindau until the journey back to Friedrichshafen later that afternoon.
Now that I have bored you with your eyes getting heavy with a train journey around the east side of the lake, it will get better and more bloggy.
Bregenz, Austria
So, after a ride on a Double Decker train from Lindau, and my eyes fixed on the window facing out to the lake and glaring at the Swiss Alps in view, I disembarked at Bregenz station. Now, I really did have to find some local information on this time. I didn’t really get any information from my friend Oliver on this, but he did say I should spend some time in this city if I am in this area.
So after receiving some information I headed out to the Lake Constance where the floating stage in an outdoor theatre was. The weather was starting to brighten up. I could still see the cloud at the peak of Mountain Pfänder which overlooks the town of Bregenz.
Bregenz, Austria
It is 1064 meters tall and has very tall green trees with a few houses. I am sorry about this, but my knowledge of trees and their names etc, I am not good at. I really should take note of this when at school. But I know what an oak tree is.
I looked at the information guide which I picked up and noticed that it takes at least 90 minutes to walk up the mountain. I would love to do this, but I didn’t have much time. I already know by the look of the towns that I would need more time here and I wanted to bring Olga here and share the experience. But I noticed that there was a cable car which takes six minutes each way for a 10 euro price tag to take me to the peck, so I opted for this tourist attraction. After walking pass some wonderful built buildings alongside the lake with the sun coming out even more and the cloud fading, and also popping into some more souvenir shops for tacky goods I landed up at the cable car station.
The journey did take six minutes.
Bregenz, Austria
It was fast and the journey was great. All I have to say is that the side of the Mountain Pfänder is very green and bushy. This was great. All I wanted was Julie Andrews to sing this is the Sound of Music (well, I don’t know the song that well, but you know what I mean!) and dancing with sheep in the background.
The views were just amazing. Bregenz down below my feet, to the north was Lindau on Lake Constance, and north of that was Friedrichshafen and the rest of Germany. To the west and south was Switzerland and Romans horn, and behind me was Liechtenstein. Four countries with just amazing views of the Alps and Lake Constance.
Bregenz, Austria
I just stood there. Amazed. With the sight. The wind blowing in my hair. The sun beaming down. The glare of the suns beaming rays onto the lake. It was just perfect. I stayed there for a good hour. I was thinking what to do next. I wanted to have a quick look round Bregenz before setting back to Deutschland.
So I headed back to the cable car and into Bregenz. I walked down Belruptstabe passed the Church of the sacred heart, and into the Old part of Bregenz. With the city walls and main gate, and St Martins tower worth looking at.
Then I had a great idea. Why catch the train back into Deutschland. I had a return ticket after all. I had time. The weather was great. So I decided to walk. And walk. And walk. Alongside the Lake Constance.
Bregenz, Austria
There was a slight shore breeze. The mountains overlooking me. Cars building up along the main road into Bregenz from Deutschland to be tourists I would imaged. Cyclists everywhere. This was great. It was so peaceful. Everyone who walked passed you smiled and greeted you with a cheery hello.
I eventually walked over the border back in Deutschland, which I only found out with the footpath signs either side of this small bridge over a small stream. This was the border. Wow! First time that I walked into another country without being checked or searched. That is what I love about open borders in Euro land.
I carried on walking through the suburbs of Lindau. There were these beautiful gardens with huts which elderly people owned and sat out in the sunshine with a cup of tea and biscuit.
Bregenz, Austria
Seemed very British that to me. I also accidentally walked through Lindau Park, a caravan park. Opps. But the tourists didn’t seem to mind.
I eventually got to Lindau, 10km later and nearly 1 hour 45 minutes after I first stepped out from the old part of Bregenz.
My feet were aching. I needed to sit down. I walked through the main square where the church and these beautiful ancient buildings stood. People sitting out on benches with their beer still taking in the late afternoon sunshine.
I decided that I should catch a train back to Friedrichshafen and have a meal in the town there, before I go back to the airport to check in.
Bregenz, Austria
I think I spent about 30 minutes in Lindau before boarding a train to take me to my destination.
After a small nap on the train as this was a long day, my train arrived in Friedrichshafen. I got off the train and nearly collapsed as my left leg seemed to give way after all the walking I did earlier.
I looked and walked around the main town and harbour for a restaurant to eat in. This did not look promising at first. All the menus in the windows were Deutsch (duh!) and the food didn’t look good as I was looking through the window to see what the restaurants customers were eating. I came back to a Steak House place nearby the train station. I walked through the door and the female waitress greeted me in English. She knew that I was a tourist. Next minute I was sitting down with an English menu. Great! This is better.
There were not many people in the restaurant.
Bregenz, Austria
In fact, I was the first customer that evening. I just hate it when you are in the restaurant all by yourself. Eating alone. Then more people came in, all local people, keeping a watchful eye on the tourist. But they were fine. I had a rump steak which was a little bloody and a bowl of chips. They don’t even put salad on the plate. They kept it basic. But the food was great. I think this is one of the best steaks I have ever had. I also had nine pieces of Garlic Bread and the garlic was strong but great. I love this food. The price was right as well, so I left the place feeling very happy and took my train back to the airport.
After checking in the smallest airport department lounge (it was modern, but I think this may tie in the size department with Tampere, the farm barn!) I first through security and passport control when they bothered to open up. The plane journey was fast, one hour and 15 minutes, and I landed at Stansted at 2220. 20 minutes early than the booked arrival time.
The next bit is not really about travel.
Bregenz, Austria
I want to share this with you as it was a very long day for me as you will see. After walking on the runway and into the shuttle train to take me to the arrivals part of the airport, I switched on my phone and my father rang me. He told me my cat, Three-Pounds, who I have had since I was eight years old (I am 24 years now), is on the verge of death. My cat means everything to me. She acted like a dog. Strange. She was my best friend. I was determined to get home to Stevenage as soon as I could. I ran straight to the coach station, to see if there was a national express coach to take me back across country, but I missed one by two minutes. I couldn’t ask Ryanair any more to get me in any earlier…lol.
I ran straight back to the terminal building to the train station, and there was a Stansted Express train leaving for Liverpool Street in London in one minute. So I boarded that and notice that the train also stops off at Tottenham Hale. So I disembarked there, and ran straight into the Underground, where I accidentally pushed an Indian man to the floor with his luggage (I did say sorry, how kind I was), and the tube was just pulling into the station.
Bregenz, Austria
I boarded that and made the short journey to Finsbury Park. I ran up the stairs and just pulling into the station was my train to Stevenage, which was the next stop. I got my Dad to pick me up at the station to take me to my whole village near Stevenage. I did the whole journey in around 75 minutes I think it was. Amazing.
Then when I walked in my lounge, my cat was laying there. It collapses earlier in the day. It was struggling to breathe. She didn’t let my parents touch her so she couldn’t be moved. When I came in, she looked at me, allowed me to touch her and move her. I was making her comfortable. I put a towel in a basket and put her in it. I took her upstairs and put the basket on the floor next to my bed. She was struggling to breathe but was still purring. I knew she didn’t have long. Most of the hours to come, she just laid there, eyes close, just trying to breathe.
Bregenz, Austria
About 6am in the morning, she was making funny noises, and bringing up black vomit. I had her front paw in my hand and she try to lift her head, turned her head to me, eyes open, screamed (and meowed) to say her goodbyes, and then lay back, and passed away. My best friend passed away. I was so happy to be there.
I just wanted to mention this as it was a sad ending to the day, and having to put her in a home made grave in the back garden two hour later, just got to me.
Goodbye my friend. I miss you.
Three Pounds Bates
26. May 1991 – 1st October 2006.
Bregenz, Austria
