Regensburg Flooding 2013

Following days of heavy rain, rivers all over Germany rose to record breaking levels and cities were flooded. These pictures are from the 2013 flooding of the Danube River in Regensburg, Germany and were taken on June 3rd.

To the right of these trees there used to be a path we walked on quite frequently.The orange thing in the water is height marker. We recorded where we took this picture so we can return in a few days/weeks and compare the water levels.

This street and alley were closed due to flooding. The stone bridge is on the left, and normally appears much taller.

This is a flood gate, quite literally holding the waters back. The sign says high water.

Fun fact: the gate was leaking. This was the most nerve-wracking photo I took that day. I was worried that the gate would suddenly break and I'd be swept out into the raging waters of the Danube.

This is the view of the flood gate from the bridge; from the river side. We later witnessed two idiot boys climb on that small roof to the left. We ultimately left the bridge because we didn't want to be there if/when they fell in, because let's face it, there would be nothing we could do.

Zoomed out picture of the buildings on the river side, and the flood gate.

This is what the city and water levels look like when they aren't flooded. This picture is from November 2011.

The stone bridge barely has room for water to pass below it, and supposedly the waters rose even higher that night.

The stone bridge from October 2012. Near the island you can walk on one of the abutments. Now it's all underwater.

This is across the river from old town Regensburg. It's normally an island in the middle of the Danube, and we've walked on it in the past. Now each building is it's own island.

The island below the flood waters on a passive day, also from November 2011.

We can only assume that spray is from a fire hose pumping water out from behind flood gates.

On the right hand side of the photo are some large cruise ships or barges. Normally they are able to pass under that metal bridge from the previous photo (and just discernible in the background here). Due to the high water, the large ships have become stranded as they can no longer fit under the bridge.

The area to the right is normally crowded with people enjoying sausages from the Wurstkuche or historic sausage kitchen. Near the trees are metal flood fences holding back the water.

Unfortunately, the first row of flood fences in front of the Wurstkuche were unable to stem the tide. This photo was taken from behind a second set of flood fences, and the people living in the buildings behind them were already sandbagging, preparing for these fences to break.

This is the area in front of the sausage kitchen that is now underwater.

UPDATE!!!!!!
The sausage kitchen is once again open for business, and has repaired the damage to the walls. They even have prepared a section of wall for a new high water lines. 2013 will join the ranks of flood from the last few centuries.

British Stuff

Photo Bombing Random Idiots
Abbey Road, London, England

Before trekking to the next Waterstones, we headed out to St. John’s Wood. This is where Abbey Road Studios is located, and here you can recreate the eponymous Beatles album cover. What most people were ignoring is the most obvious; Abbey Road is a busy, working intersection. Morons were walking in front of buses and cars, and holding up traffic while they posed like bizarre Barbie dolls. I looked at the album cover, and all 4 Beatles were in the act of walking; not stopping, posing, and smiling for the camera. We crossed when it was safe, and without holding up traffic. We also casually ignored the camera in true Beatles fashion. I even (mostly) accidentally wrecked some other idiots’ photo. We were all going to cross and then they just stopped moving like Andy’s toys seeing a kid; I almost crashed into them. No apologies from me.

Our Island of Safety
Abbey Road, London, England

We left Abbey Road and headed for the British Museum, thinking we had left the madness behind. Our goal was to see the Egypt rooms and the Rosetta Stone, as described in the Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan. The British Museum is free, actually all state owned museums in the UK are free, and the place was packed, mostly with Asian tour groups.

There were people everywhere, and lots of them were really pushy. Tired of being bumped and jostled, we eventually abandoned the museum after a 30 minute wait for the bathroom. It was just too crowded, and the experience really wasn’t enjoyable.

The Rosetta Stone behind Glass
The British Museum, London, England

Leaving behind the throngs of people, we walked to the Waterstones on Euston Road. This bookstore is spread over 5 floors and is in an historic building. They also sell second hand books, and I was amazed to see them organized like new books; they weren’t stacked in milk crates. There were scores of books about British history, books by British authors, and books about British localities. It was tough to limit my purchases, but I only bought 3 books (from that particular store anyway).

Useful Links!
Pictures from Our Trip!
The British Museum
Abbey Road Studios Website
Live Video Feed of Abbey Road Crossing
Waterstones Bookstore