Cologne Christmas Market.

Brodenbach, Germany.

Looking over the river Moselle outside the Hotel Anker.

Everybody slept well which wasn’t surprising after yesterdays marathon. Breakfast was on from 08.00hrs and we had to be back on the coach at 09.30hrs. The only problem was there was no hotel provided wake up service and Dot set her phone alarm forgetting it was on UK time. Needless to say it was a bit of a rush for us as we were at least 45 minutes late. The other problem was luke warm showers which didn’t go down well. Still we did make the coach on time and we were off to Cologne. John, our driver did warn us that it could be a slower trip than usual because there had been more overnight snow.

The view from the front door of the hotel Anker.

We arrived at 11.00hrs and had to be back at the arranged pick up point by 15.30hrs. This gave us a reasonable length of time to look around the cathedral, market and the city. Starting off with the market we found plenty of stalls selling hot food and Gluhwein (mulled wine). Due to the minus temperatures they were all doing brisk business.

Cruise ships moor here.

Christmas decorations in glass, wood and terracotta,trinkets,and beautiful wooden carvings of all sorts. Winter woollies both small and large as well as hand crafted linen for the season. There was so much that we would have liked to have purchased but it would be a logistics nightmare to get it back to New Zealand. After a while we headed into the cathedral or Dom as the German’s know it, to thaw out for a while.

Cologne Cathedral or Dom as it is known

The interior of the cathedral was nothing less than spectacular. The colour in the stain glass windows were probably the most vivid we have ever seen and we have visited our fair share of cathedral's and churches. Once we had thawed out it was time to head back out and have a look at the railway station which was close by and take some photo’s of the trains passing through.

Cologne Cathedral.

Cologne cathedral or Dom.

We had about an hour left to wander around the surrounding area which of course has all been rebuilt since WWII as it was all bombed out by the Allies and the cathedral was about the only thing left standing. Cologne is just like any other modern city just about anywhere in the world. Back in the hotel we had a very nice 3 course meal followed by a few ales and a chance to talk to other fellow travellers.

Rides to keep the kid's happy at the Cologne Xmas market.

Derek wrapped up well against the -6.0C temperature.

A Hot Chestnut vendor.

Nativity scene in Cologne.