A Whistle Stop Tour of Europe.

Having had to leave our Bay outside Cologne due to emission zones, we took opportunity to spend the night in a hotel, catching the train to the city centre the next morning which takes you right to the Dom - the magnificent gothic cathedral that like our own St. Pauls’ stood proud amongst the burning city during the darkest days of the WW2 bombings.

- DAVE AND DEBBIE PERRIMAN

Having had to leave our Bay outside Cologne due to emission zones, we took opportunity to spend the night in a hotel, catching the train to the city centre the next morning which takes you right to the Dom - the magnificent gothic cathedral that like our own St. Pauls’ stood proud amongst the burning city during the darkest days of the WW2 bombings.

Cologne or “Koln” as it is known in Germany suffered terribly during the war but like London has risen to be a great city and a great place to visit. We walked to a nearby Brauhause (pub) to sample some delicious Kölsch, a local beer served in thin 250ml glasses by the local waiters who bring you another beer as soon as you’re empty! The traditional food of Cologne is basic but hearty and delicious I sampled the Halve Hahn (half chicken), this is basically a cheese sandwich made with Rye bread and Gouda, you even have to assemble it yourself. There is no chicken, the Germans have a strange sense of humour!

Debbie had the cheese and leek soup and we both finished a delicious Apfelstrudel for dessert. Next day we took the open top bus tour of the city then went into the Dom cathedral to marvel at its splendour. If you don’t say anything else about it you will say it’s big, very big, in fact huge. We then took the train back to Leverkusen, picked up the van and continued south to Luxembourg.