The missing carriage and how we still made it to Augsburg

Between the days we wanted to travel to Augsburg and Ravensburg by train. Since we thought that there wouldn't be much going on at the train station, we optimistically set off in the car. Unfortunately, all the parking spaces were taken, so I got out at the train station with two suitcases and a backpack, hoping to find a parking space.

Shortly before, we received the news that our return connection had changed, so I went to the Service Centre again (or rather stumbled, overloaded) where they only told me what I had already suspected from researching on the internet: one of our booked trains no longer existed, but there was an alternative with a dangerously short transfer time or one with an 80-minute layover in Stuttgart...

But for now, we were ready to go, so the two suitcases and I went to the platform. However, when I wanted to board, I couldn't find the carriage where our reserved seats were supposed to be. Later it turned out that it simply didn't exist: two carriages were missing from the train, which according to the internet was expected to have a "very high occupancy". I waited somewhat uncertainly, but fortunately I wasn't alone and we were able to board together before the train departed, after successfully finding a parking space and a small jogging session.

Since we live on the outskirts of the country and therefore at the first railway station, we also found a seat. During the journey, a ticket inspector told us that she also didn't know where the missing carriages had gone, but she was sure she would find us a seat if a BahnComfort customer wanted to take ours. There were some amusing stories about experiences with the railway in our compartment, where we were actually able to sit for the entire eight-hour journey to Augsburg. Unfortunately, the bistro carriage was also missing, so we were glad that we had packed some provisions...

In Augsburg, we only planned the next day in the evening, when we initially went to the old town in the morning to take part in a guided tour.

Our guide told us a lot about the history of Augsburg, from the Romans to the Fugger, as we walked through the old town.

We spent some time in the "Fuggerei", founded in 1521 by Jakob Fugger. With this residential complex for poor citizens of Augsburg, he probably wanted to improve his reputation in the city - and his chances of getting to heaven without a visit to purgatory.

Even today, people can live here for the rather symbolic cold rent of one Rhenish gulden (0.88 euro) per year (!).

However, there are three conditions: you must have lived in Augsburg for at least two years, be in need, and be Catholic.

Later we went back and also visited the bunker from World War II, which provided protection against air raids not only for the residents of the Fuggerei, but also for people from the surrounding area.

Large parts of Augsburg were destroyed in the war because the local industry was targeted. Among the destroyed buildings was the town hall, which we visited next.

In the golden hall, we admired the reconstruction. It is used by the city for representative purposes and overwhelms visitors with lots of gold leaf and splendor.

After a break to warm up in the cafe (we had 1°C with sunshine), we continued to the cathedral.

After a tour of the church and the cloister, we continued to the "Fugger and Welser Experience Museum". There we saw a modern exhibition about the history and prosperity of the Fuggers.

After our second visit to the Fuggerei, we had dinner at the restaurant "Die Tafeldecker", where Bavarian-Swabian tapas are offered. A very interesting and tasty combination.

Since it was already dark, we strolled through the city center again and looked at the illuminated buildings.