Do you know that thing when you take to a city and a city takes to you? Cologne has done that so apologies for the delay in writing about it. Quite simply we have been way too busy doing stuff.
The train journey on Wednesday – Edinburgh-London-Brussels – was good with no upsets at all. Our overnight digs near Brussels Midi/Zuid station were fine if not palatial (certainly better and cheaper than a hotel!).. The evening meal turned out to be a nostalgia trip to a restaurant we visited last time we were there (some 21 years ago),
Thursday’s run to Cologne was also easy and on one of the newer trains (ICE 3neo if interested). The 1st class compartments were very good and the standard class looked acceptable too though, of course, with less luggage space and leg room (as usual).
As I said in my brief FB post yesterday we like Cologne – and today hasn’t changed our mind. We had breakfast (just croissant, coffee (for me) & mint tea (for Ally) at a place almost 2 minutes away from the apartment. The apartment is, by the way, good – difficult at first to not have an actual key (or even fob) but we have committed the 6 digit key code to memory. I’m not sure of the bookcase top shelf decoration is a coincidence or deliberate affectation – but it is appreciated either way.
Today was always going to be about going with the flow – we both slept like logs for ages and felt a little refreshed this morning. So we took the underground the centre and walked down to the river to get on the 10:30 “Panorama Cruise”. Really enjoyed the experience – the boat, the staff, the witty but informative commentary all helped make it a memorable morning.
After that we strolled along the river bank to the Deutzer Bridge and into the Altstadt via St Martin’s church.
Having decided that our apartment wasn’t actually that far away we walked up though the old town into the newer bits (having been reminded why there are newer bits by the cruise commentary!). We stopped at a likely looking café/restaurant for lunch (Flammenkuche – a favourite of ours & a glass of decent wine each). After a brief rest we headed out again to a wine bar we liked the look of then a quick side trip to top up our supplies. What hadn’t expected was Kölner Weinwoche in the Neumarkt Square – so many people, so much wine and so much happy noise!
The weather, as you may see from some of the photos, has been contrary to our expectations – all long range forecasts indicated dawn to dusk sunshine and temperatures in the mid-20s. In fact it has been cloudy, windy and wet as well as significantly colder. A challenge to our layering + light packing system I can tell you 😉
Tomorrow’s (Saturday) activities will depend on which forecast is right but we have plans for any eventuality including doing very little!
Retired Software Testing expert. Archetypal Grumpy Old Man with the potential to be irritated by just about anything under the sun
Assorted ramblings 
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