Zeppelin (airship) museum, Friedrichshafen, Germany

So far, I am the first and only person I know who go to Germany by BOAT. Pretty cool eh (or maybe not). Anyway, I took a boat from Swizterland to Germany via Lake Constance (Bondensee). Bondensee is surrounded by 3 countries, the other one being Austria.

Zeppelin airship was the future of air travel before airplanes became prominent. Then the disaster of Hindenburg at Lakehurst basically doomed this awesome technology. 

Titanic is the sea's most famous disaster. Hindenburg is probably the most infamous air disaster. 

Here is the amazing video. Imagine the effect it had 70 years ago.

The disaster probably foreshadowed what's about to come. Hindenburg was the

last president for Germany before Hitler. This airship was the main show in the 

1936 Berlin Olympics. Needless to say it's a big part of Nazis propaganda.

Hindenburg over New York. There were no 747

Goodbye Switzerland. See you next time. 

Swiss Alps in the background

Gigantic Airship

Hindenburg replica. It's probably the food court

look at how comfortable the chairs are. No airplane chairs come close to this (economy class)

Journey from Europe to America took 3 days. Bathroom does look nice

this is the economy class. oh man...looks comfy

President Hindenburg (I got a photo of Hitler's bust...I'll post it in the future)

video taken in New York's sky

those airships are gigantic. probably 3 times as long as 747s

oh, that's the cabin of a Germany regional train

the regional train was new. Small, quiet, speedy. In other words, totally awesome.

train destination: Lindau !

Nürnberg (Nuremberg), the most German of all German cities!

...and also one of my FAVORITE cities in Europe (apparently one of two interests Hitler and I shared, the other being lusting over a map and wondering where I want to invade next!).

The old town is magnificent and historic. Nuremberg existed way before Columbus's great-great-great grandparents learned how to become pirates! 

Contrary to popular beliefs, German (at least Bayerns, or Bavarians) are very friendly toward foreigners. In fact, Germans/Swiss are the friendliest people I met in Europe. Don't believe the myth that these are racist pigs. Their country & grandparents paid tremendous price for their mistakes. So the next time when you head over there, expect to meet lots of friendly people who speak better English than I did. 

Old tower (hundred of years old!). A majestic sight in front of the train station

into the old town

a low key memorial to their world dead. afterall, they lost.....twice!

very picturesque old town

the famous Nuremberg Ring, it brings good luck to those who touch the gold ring! 

here is is, the magical gold ring!

actually, you just made yourself a joke to the locals. the gold one is a decoy, the rusty colored ring is the real deal ! -)

self explanatory

a cool looking church

another part of old town 

at the main square. Nuremberg Christmas market is world-famous !

the nice German who let me stayed on his couch for a couple days

holyshit!! he is a cop !! (crap, where do I hide my drugs?)

he is nice enough to give me a patch (POLIZEI)

the city has a great transport system. it is even a better bike town. (bicycle, not the other one)

Nuremberg airport, where I slept for the night by myself. Just like Tom Hanks in The Terminal,

this is really really cool!

I was going to include some WWII sites (Nazis rally ground, museum, congress hall etc...) But it will be too long.

Preview of the next topic: WWII sites, in Nuremberg, in Munich (Nazis headquarter), in Berchtesgaden (the unofficial capital, after Berlin)...If you are a WWII buff, you will LOVE it!

(ps, Auschwitz will have its own topic, so now you have two posts to look forward to)

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