Heading to Cologne

 On the bus at 0755, and we hit the road. 

Stop at a small village called Rüdesheim am Rhein

It’s apparently famous for Christmas markets. We’re a few months early for that. Very cute, though. Another time, perhaps.

On the road again, following the Rhine. 

Recently we did a whistle stop in Apia. The drive from the airport to the main town (city?) was punctuated by a church every few hundred metres.

Same here. Blink and here comes another castle or a church. Often both. All the way down the Rhine. At least 40 castles and over 270 churches within sight of the river.

From a place called Sankt Goarshausen we catch a boat for a wee jaunt up the river.

Nearby is a statue for a woman called Loreley, who apparently threw herself off a cliff into the river, rather than be sent to a convent.

When we get off at Kamp Bornhofen, then it’s onto a smaller coach to head up the hill to an old castle for lunch

It’s called Burg Liebenstein, and has amazing views of the river and village below.

After lunch we carry on to Köln, or Cologne to us. 

First stop is the Cologne Cathedral. Impressive. Sarah lit a couple of candles for her parents. 

We had some free time, so decided to look around the neighborhood instead of wandering further afield like the others. 

I happened upon a shop selling t-dhirts that appealed. Pity it was a Sunay is all I can say.

We ended up at a place called Five Guys, a kind of wanna be McDonald’s. We decided to have a large fries, to tide us over until we did dinner tonight. 

First shock: 8.95 euros for a large fries!! Do the math, people!!!

Second shock: A medium drink-sized paper cup full of fries AND the same amount poured onto the tray.

Holy shitballs, that’s a lot of potatoes!!

Before we can leave Five Guys to meet the group again, the heavens open. I had to wonder if this was some kind of payback for using up two candles at a Catholic cathedral. Perhaps...