Interrail 2025 – part two

As we had expected the weather set the agenda today. We decided to do the “Hop on, Hop off” bus tour this morning with a view to getting a wider view of the city. We also planned to break that journey near the Zoo and have a walk around the botanical gardens.

First things first though and we returned to Café Reichard for breakfast. It is, for those familiar, very similar to Betty’s Tea Rooms in the UK and has a very Swiss-influenced menu and atmosphere. On the way we met up with an English lady at the underground station, helped her purchase her ticket and got into conversation with her. Turns out she is a singer with the Lewisham Choral Society who are performing with many others at the Kölner Philharmonie tomorrow and she was heading into final rehearsals. We had actually spotted that it was on but neither of us are particular fans of Britten, or indeed, the War Requiem (brilliant as it is), so passed on the chance.

Then to the open top bus – not as daft a decision as it might seem given the forecast, the low temperature, etc. but there was a sliding roof that was easily deployed as required (because, of course, it did rain).

I will be honest and say we weren’t that impressed with the tour it started by going through many tunnels where the clearance over our heads was a little ‘close’! As we got to the Botanical Gardens the promised rain came – we alighted anyway and had a short walk (with brollies in use).

Plan B failed at the last step as the glasshouses were closed for refurbishment. Since the bus was half hourly we ‘hopped on’ the next one for the remainder of the round trip. Having decided that a decent lunch was required and, having examined the menu at Café Reichard over breakfast , we returned there. First though we had 2 quick objectives – first the Tourist Info then a quick ok inside the Dom.

We didn’t stay long , way too many people! We weaved though the huge crowds outside the Dom and blagged a superb table in a very busy Café. Lunch was ordered – crepe for me (Apfelpfannkuchen) and Berner Rösti (bacon & egg with fried potatoes) for Ally. Washed down, of course, with a decent wine each

The food was excellent, the service brilliant and, again, top quality ‘people watching’. We had a good conversation with the group on the next table – an English couple from Thirsk visiting German friends – and that is turning out to be a regular thing we have found.

We did, suitably protected, set out for a quick run to the shops to top up for tonight’s light meal noting, on the way, how different the local streets are on a Saturday. Busier and much more relaxed if that makes sense.

I am writing this as my football team are battling in the Championship Play Off final so apologies for any lapse of spelling or grammar. My devices keep pinging progress (and lack of it!) to me 😉

Tomorrow the weather looks set to be even worse than today except that the rain should ease late afternoon/early evening and the temperature rise to be closer to what we had been expecting (maybe even topping 20 degrees!) I have said it before and will keep on repeating it – Köln is a nice place to visit. Enough to see without knocking yourself out and such a warm & friendly atmosphere.