Rhine River Rafting Adventure – Day 6

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Cologne. We docked overnight, but we knew in the morning around 5:30AM that we were in a big city, when an ambulance siren broke the silence. Today is a day of walking tour, and free time. After breakfast, we left the boat at 9:00 to walk around the square, of the Cathedral. This is one of Germany’s oldest cities, and was pretty much destroyed during the second world war. The Cathedral has a little damage, but the area beside it wasn’t so fortunate.

The time to return to the ship was lunch. We had lunch on board, and cast off for Amsterdam. That is our final city, and the tour of the Romantic River Rhine will be history tomorrow night (Wednesday). We are having the farewell dinner tonight, since tomorrow night is not working well with everyone having early flights out on Thursday.

The day has seemed like two since we are in two different modes. Cologne walking touring, visiting shops and brauhaus, Gaffel Am Dom and back on board, sail down the Rhine, get ready for supper, and the Farewell Dinner. So much in one day, makes it seem like two. Being in Cologne, and being a home brewer, one of the most likes styles of beer that I make, is a Kolsch (put umlaut where it needs to be in your imagination). For those that don’t know, Kolsch is a style that is only Cologne. It can only be sold in Cologne, and the German Government regulates beer very strictly. Cologne or Koln as they use on maps, have a beer that is only theirs, Kilsch. I wanted to try an original, so we went to the Gaffel Am Dom, a brauhaus by the train station, near the Cathedral (how lucky is that). The other thing they regulate is L’eau de Cologne (aka perfume). Strange thing about that, which is similar to the Guttenberg printing fiasco, where the inventor winds up penniless. Johann Farina, the dude that came up with the formula for perfume, was so popular, but didn’t do something right and the French and Germans fought over it, and the result was the address on the street where it was being sold was 4711, so now, Farina (in Cologne) is the only place you can buy it, and 4711 is a generic with Eau de Cologne, and perfume store. You can google it, and see why they needed the “water” in the first place.





Pictures are going to be random and probably not too organized. Just read and watch. Sorry.

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Photos

Bridge over the Rhine
The original was bombed by the Germans to keep the Allies from getting across. It is one of the only major bridges in the world that still has padlocks on it. All the other major bridges that had padlocks, removed them due to the weight.

Cathedral of Cologne
There is always a scaffold on the building. When they finish cleaning, it is time to start over.

Work area for restoration of Cathedral
As they repair the part of the Cathedral, they replace them with better stone. Original is Sandstone, and as you clean it, it gets smaller, so they are replacing parts as they get to that area.

Artist in front of Cathedral.
As you can see, this is his only job. You are supposed to throw money in his bag.

Farina store
They sell Cologne here. She said I could take a picture but she wasn't going to be in it. I didn't want her, but just the display of the Farina perfume, since this is the only place you can get it.

Gaffel am Dom
Brewery by the Cathedral, of course they brew Kolsch.

The Obligatory picture by the sign.
How else would I know who I sailed with and what ship it was.

Galley Tour
Back on boat, we signed up for a Galley Tour to see how they prepare food for us all.

Galley
Where they prepare the plates to take out.

Rick & Margaret with Richard & Vernell
After they prepare the food, this is where they bring some of it.

Farewell Meal
One of the courses brought out for the farewell meal.

Comments

[JKeating]

Cathedral
Do you know why the cathedral has less damage than pretty much anything around it? It was a decision the allied bomber pilots made. Nothing looked the same when they returned with a fresh payload, so they decided to leave the cathedral alone. It was big enough to see from the air and an easy landmark to communicate to each other on where they need to drop the next round.