Leaving Salzbergen and off to Cologne
We left with new memories and new family and friends, big hugs and kisses.
Ruby took us along the countryside for 3.5 hours and sauntered through Cologne. Initially, there were a lot of factories and buildings, quite commercial. Our Campsite, Campingplatz Stadt Koln, situated on the Rhein (Rhine) River had all the necessary amenities, even gas stoves in a common wash area for campers to use. They had a kiosk with all your bits and bobs and a mini takeaway kitchen. It also had a very communal area where a group of Brits would gather in the evenings.
When we booked in we mentioned that we had a mini-camper and were discounted 1 euro! Always good to save. Plus it paid for a shower, at 50 cents, for each of us. The quickest hot shower ever but better than nothing.
Settled in for the evening!
When we arrived – Nick and I had so much blogging to do – the first thing was find out if the site has wi-fi. At 3 euro's for 1 hour and 6 euro's for 24hrs, we took the latter. There was 6 days to get noted! Some of which had been written but photo's needed to be minimised and uploaded, etc. This blogging is hard work! Actually, we had been so busy in Salzbergen enjoying everyone's company that we didn't have a stitch of time to do it.
So, the blogging started. Between making dinner, tuna pasta (for lack of having anything better), a couple of cold ones and blogging, we only managed to finish everything the next day at noon! So we had a chill out session – though worked hard at the same time. We decided to see Koln at least and stay another night.
As I haven't mentioned much about the weather – it must be said we have been so blessed... It is warm. In the mornings, a little cool but it gets progressively hot. Just thought to let you know!
8 June Cont.
Grabbed the bikes, took a 15 minute ride to the Alstadt (Old Town). Really quaint and most certainly the nicest area of Cologne. We locked the bike to a fence and took a walk through the cobbled streets through to the Koln Dom (trans. Cologne Cathedral). Incredible! It stands proudly in the centre of the city. The size of it is indescribable. The acid rain has blackened this Gothic building was started in1248 and due to various historical issues only completed 640 years later! There is work being done currently to clean it – though one wonders if it will ever be complete.
View from the bridge when cycling into town
Nick and I decided to take a look inside... Breathtaking. Overpowering! Almost like walking into the Cathedral of Notre Dame, Paris. You look up and the ceilings seem to go on forever. The variety of stain glass windows, mosaics and paintings show the differences in the many, many years to complete it. One section still looked as if the painting needed to be completed. Definitely the major site to visit.
A sandwich from the local takeaway filled the gap and then we wobbled along the cobbled roads or roadworks in Wolters Bimmelbahn Sightseeing Train. We bumped about until our bicycle bums were even more bruised. It took us along the areas that we might not have visited due to distance. The recorded tour guide was in various languages – one of which was English. The narrator was not English. We could hardly make out what she was saying! She was perhaps better off talking for a sexy lingerie advert than explaining Koln's surroundings. Then again, the trip was only 5 euro's! There were more expensive alternatives (12 euro's odd) that looked a little more professional. Regardless, it is a good way to see the city you are in.
There is a midway stop at the zoo and Botanical Gardens. Nick and I are in agreement that we do not do zoo's. Coming from South Africa, it is so much more favourable seeing them in the wild. Instead we took a stroll through the gardens.
The little train came back for us. A visit to a tourist office for a grocery store and electric store. We found a microphone for our computer to Skype home and some speakers for the MP3. Word of advice, ask for a market or if on budget, LIDL or Aldi, whilst in Germany. If you ask for a Supermarket it is possible that you will be sent to a shop more exclusive than a Waitrose, like us. A little bit of spoil is never a bad thing.
The Altstat or Old town
Our bikes were still there and we returned home to a nice, warm, “Nicky Noo” stew with German sausage and veg. Mmh! Then, bed.
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