Cologne

11th August
Cologne - Duisberg
At 3.30 am (we didn't stay up to watch) we left Koblenz and by the time we were waking just pulling in to Cologne. The walking tours started at 9am, so with our guides and radios off we went. Cologne was another city started by the Romans about 1,000 years ago. Cologne means colony - so it's name just comes from the fact that it started as a Roman colony. Now that I know that Cologne was doesn't have the same romantic ring to it. There is not much left of the original city and the majority of it was totally flattened in WWsecond (as they say). The only thing that was left was the massive cathedral, and this was used as a marker for the bombers coming to bomb more bridges. Around the big catedral there were a few building 12?? and then right next to it a 1950 ro 1960 built building in a similar style. There was construction every where we walked. There is to be an underground rail way, which originally was to be finished last year but at the moment the completion date is around 2024. Our guided walk took us past a perfume shop. I'm sure you are all thinking 4711 but no that was not the original. The first perfume of Cologne was Farina. Our guide had a small sample bottle of each. I immediately recognised the forceful smell of 4711 but Farina was really nice - a gentler, softer fragrance. From there our next stop was the registary office. Every hour there are 3 - 4 weddings. The only legal wedding in Germany is the registary office wedding so you can then have a church wedding also (which many do) as well. It doesn't matter if the registary and the church weddings happen on the same day - some times the two are years apart. We also walked past some more excavation, but this was an archaealogical dig. The remains of a synagogue datoing back to Roman times was uncovered, not far from the registary office, and is now being pieced together. It looks like it will take longer than the underground to complete. Then onto the ABC, but wow what a church. It is massive. The bones of the three wise men are said to be buried there. I won't try to describe the building but it was started in 1200's and took many centuries to complete. About 40,000 visitor come to see the Catheral of Cologne every day, and is one of the top tourist destinations in Germany. Free time to wander about. We looked around but just bought some postcards of the bombed city. Then back on board for lunch - yes time to eatagain.......
This afternoon I left Den in Germany and I went with about 70 other passengers on an afternoon trip to The Netherlands to see the Floriade 2012 in Venlo. (Holland is the name of the region and The Netherlands is the country.) From Cologne it was an 1 1/2 drive. Still no speed limits on the highways and one motor cycle went past so quickly it was like the road runner cartoon. We arrived there safe and sound - in fact I had slept most of the way. We then had to walk for about 15 minuites just to get out of the car park!!! Floriade is only held every 10 years between April and October. There are only two permanent buildings everything else will be taken down. There were display of 'gardens' from many countries. Belgium had a lovely set up where you went for a walk around a track mass planted with lots of meadow flowers and roses. Other countries had one or two pots of nearly dead plants and the pavillion was full of necklaces and beads etc. like a cheap market stall. People would just walk in, see the lack of plants and walk out again. The theme of the Floriade was the environment and so it was not endless rows of flowers (as I originally thought) but all about horticulture and sustainable living. After searching for the green house I found it was a green house on how to better use the sun for heat etc. so on again and I found the tropical house and there were the orchids. They were set up in a huge green house with trails that went around ponds and planted with all sorts of tropical plants. I took lots of photos. From there I went to find the 'Rabo Earthwalk'. This was easily the high light of the day. You had to queue up on a ramp going up around on of the few tall buildings. So around and around. No-one near me speaking any English, I was feeling very much how far it was to Germany where Den was. So on and on queueing queueing until finally it was the turn of the group of about 30 people next in line. We walked into a room with large screens on the floor and black walls and ceiling. The lights were turned out - little spots came on over head like stars - the lights faded and there was a very gentle whoosh sound and I suddenly felt like I was floating in space. Under our feet the screens came to life and now showed the world below us. All the screens were just part of the overall picture. It was like we were on a UFO hovering out in space - then we would swoop down to a country - just like google earth - until we were just above the ground level with cars or tractors going along below us. We zoomed over oceans, flew over the top of a flock of birds, cows in a field, the peliton from the Tour d France was went along under our feet. My favorite one was groups of children standing looking up pointing at us as we flew over head. This went on for about 5 minutes. The lights went on and every one just walked out. No applause no wows. Oh well..... Off to the chair lift, and a few more areas to discover - then back to the bus at 5.30 and then back to Germany and the boat.
Meanwhile the Scenic Pearl had left Cologne and travelled on down the Rhine. It stopped at Duisburg to pick us up and then off again and travelling all night towards Amsterdam.
Half an hour to get ready for the Farewell Dinner. This started with speeches and champagne in the Lounge and continued down in the Dining room with a wonderful dining experience. All of the staff and crew came so we could meet them and they were all thanked. It has been a great cruise. All the passengers have mixed and been very friendly and the staff have all completed there tasks in a friendly fashion. We would certainly recommend this trip to any one.
So time to hit the dance floor. The first few nights hardly any one would get up to dance and now you have to squeeze your way onto the floor. It was another great night completing our time in Germany and venturing into Holland.