Some may say that I have been silent for too long, others may say 'shut up already' (Rob)!
The weather forecasts have been suggesting high winds so we decided to stay almost put. Kiel itself is a big sprawling port city, and whilst the marina we were in was perfectly pleasant we decided a move to somewhere a little further on and away from the big city would suit us better, so on Tuesday we set off for the 5 mile trip to Laboe,
After tying up to a convenient finger pontoon (yes really) we took a stroll around this pleasant seaside town with its sandy beach, waterfront cafes and U-boat!
The photos below are of U-995, built in 1943 in Hamburg she operated from Norway against allied convoys supplying the Soviet Union. She was surrendered to the British after 8 May 1945, transferred to the Norwegian navy and finally returned to Germany when decommissioned in 1962.
 |
| U-995 |
 |
| Specifications |
 |
| U-995 and the 72 metre Mariners Memorial |
 |
| Torpedo chambers |
 |
| The memorial has 341 steps to reach the upper viewing platform. Lifts are also available... |
 |
| View from the top looking towards the marina |
The monument has had a number of different dedications since it was completed in 1936. The current, and I hope enduring one simply says:
'Memorial for all those who died at sea and for peaceful navigation in free waters.'
We have statyed here a little longer than we intended as we are waiting for charts to be delivered for the next leg of our trip, but that's no great hardship! The town is pleasant with cafes, bars and a good supermarket. Thursday 14th was a holiday in Germany and we found the marina quite busy with a lot more boats out and about on the water too.. The town was also busy with groups of young guys pushing around trolleys containing music systems and beer! Hmmm!
We finished the day with drinks and supper on Cyclone with Mike and Kate, a couple we met along the pontoon. A very pleasant evening!
No comments:
Post a Comment