Day 4 - German fun

Another day, another adventure.  Actually the 3rd country in 4 days!

We decided earlier in the week to follow the weather and it looked like heading east was going to be our best bet to get another sunny day.  Sure enough we nailed it.  Koln (Cologne as we say), Germany was only a 1 hour and 45 minute train ride from Brussels.   After getting in very late (I'm talking normal people late - 11:30pm), we thought we could catch the 9:43 train in the morning.  Well we didn't think we'd sleep until almost 8!  I don't think I've slept that late since the 80s...  We ended up grabbing the next train at 10:40 and it was perfect.

The big attraction in Koln is the cathedral (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cologne_Cathedral).  I'm talking about one of the largest cathedrals in the WORLD!!  This thing is MAMMOTH!!  It's roots date back to the 1200's and it took 600 years before it was complete. It boasts the oldest remaining crucifix from 900 a.d.  This was one impress building with a ton of history inside it.  They basically built the city, train station and everything around it.   You literally walk out the doors of the station and BAM, there it is.  Makes it easy to find and also helps you find you find your back to the station (just look up).

The rest of Koln is pretty much shopping, so the girls didn't mind that part.  We grabbed some lunch and of course beers (it's mandatory in Germany, ya know).    After a while walking around, Jared and I decided we needed to rest our feet and he just happened to know about the local brew place called Fruh.  It has a kolsch beer brewed in Koln that was quite tasty.  They serve it in fairly small, but very stylish 20cl (centiliter) glasses, which is about 7 ounces.  Jared said it's the opposite of Munich where the steins will break your foot if drop them.  We had a real character for a waiter (Herr Anslath - a Turk) who kept bringing his carry with beers and dropping them at our table.  The interesting thing is at water costs more than beer in Germany.  Rianna had water at lunch and it was 2.40 and the beer was 1.70 (so twist my arm)

One more stop at the catherdral before we made our way backup to the train station (500 feet away) and we caught the last train back at 7:43.  


We had no reservations on the train this time, which means you don't have a guaranteed seat, so you need to grab what you can get.  When you buy a Eurorail pass, it doesn't include reservations!  Most of the time you can find a train that doesn't require them, but sometimes it is.  They generally cost between 5 and 10 Euro....


Jared and I were trying to get a 4 square (2 seats facing front, 2 facing back with a table in between.  Unfortunately there was a crazy looking drunk that was sleeping in one the chairs(see picture). 


Random Thoughts:
1) The bakery at the train station was better than ANY bakery I've ever been at in America!
2) The transportation is amazing (did I mention that before?)
3) Great weather again!
4) The people in Germany were fantastic!
5) French people smell (sorry Debbie)  
6) And they are rude (they shove their way everywhere)


Another perfect day, ended with a rainbow, loads of laughs and some interesting history...


Pictures to follow....


Adding pics:


https://picasaweb.google.com/112902688959282032432/Day4Koln?authkey=Gv1sRgCN29puGb6tCnBw&feat=directlink