Cologne - Its a Crowdy Feeling

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This is a city visited by millions every year. The 4th largest city in Germany. I travelled from Brussels 5 Dec 09 using Thalys train arriving in Koln about 10.55am. Try to book early if not it will cost you much more. I was charged 44euro one way. The Koln Hbf is HUGE. And the toilet EXPENSIVE! 1 euro per entry. McClean on the toilet label - Hmm since when MacDonald venture into cleaning business? Anyway I paid to see and well its nothing exciting. Next time use the toilet at Romano-Germanisch museum. Its free! First stop - Koln Tourisme. Got my maps and bought the Welcome Card. Its a mistake to buy the card even though it cost only 9euro. I realised that we can travel the best part of Cologne all with your reliable feet. Then of course the search for my hotel. I walked a big circle before arriving at the hotel Koln Pension near Eigelstein. Adjustment to the new map as usual. However its a clean budget hotel. No complaints. Got it from Booking.com. Great website. No booking fees. Next the DOM cathedral. Huge crowds storming the old doors. But its worth the charge. The Romano-Germanisch and Ludwig museums were just nearby. I decided to spend some euros for one museum during this visit. After a flip of coin its Romano-Germanisch museum. The glasswares from the Roman period of Koln were impressive. Then its a reflex to pass through the shopping street of Hohe Strasse and Schildergasse. Again the charge through the crowds. Phew. I was lucky to come during Christmas period since there were a few christmas markts around Koln. The largest was the one beside the DOM. Again the crowds were incredible. Don't miss the river Rhine. Cross the Hohenzollern Bridge. Take the photo of DOM from the right bank. And if you have spare euros get on the KD ship and tour the river. Finally newmarkt and heumarkt were two other locations not to be missed. Again watch for the crowds.
Conclusion? Cologne is a crowdy feeling :-)

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Photos

DOM Cathedral
Beautiful coloured windows within the cathedral

Koln Tourisme
A great place to start.

Koln HbF
The Ultra BUSY rail station

The Pillar of Heaven
The pillar not referring to the cathedral but the granite stone below

Romano-Germano Museum
Great collection of Roman glasswares

Christmas Markt
Huge crowds. Great items on sale. Not to mention FOOD! Good location - just beside the DOM

Christmas Markt
In the ship!

Right Bank of Rhine
Miniaturised DOM and St Martin