Köln and Koblenz

We took it easy in the morning before walking the gazillion miles to the Berlin main train station with our packs. Looking like sweaty tourists we boarded our train and arrived to Köln (Cologne)in the afternoon. Leaving the station we were confronted and awed by the colossal Köln Cathedral as it is the tallest Roman Catholic cathedral in the world, measuring a mere 515 ft. We scurried our way through the soviet looking town to our hotel and deposited our bags.

Back at the "Dom" we pondered how long it took to build something this gargantuan and detailed, especially in the medieval ages no less. The structure found its start in 1248 and took over 600 years to complete. Within the cathedral is a golden reliquary that supposedly shelters the remains of the Biblical Magi, a.k.a. the Three Wise Men.

In the morning we headed to Koblenz, meandering around the town looking for a Rhine River cruise. We happened upon the KD fleet just in time for the 9am ship. This excursion has been our favorite so far. The views are green and gorgeous with castles and vineyards speckled along the hills. We stoked up a conversation with a friendly British gentleman who was impressed we were still talking to each other thus far into the trip. He also told us about the sesselbahn, or chairlift, that takes you 1000 meters to a cafe with a panoramic view of the Rhine.

As ones to not pass up an opportunity we hoped off with our bags and hunted down the sesselbahn. The chairlift was amazing, until the ride down in the rain and howling wind (somehow I was always the one on the windward side), but the hot chocolate and apple strudel with vanilla sauce at the cafe was totally worth it. We walked back to the dock for the remaining 5 hour journey down the Rhine. Highlights included Loreley rock, Jason the Bee Killer, and the lovely UK couple we met.

It was Frau Chane in high school German class who told us the tale of Loreley. Legend has it that Loreley was a beautiful young maiden, distraught over her unfaithful lover plunged to her death from the rocks above. She remained a siren, singing to the sailors and luring them to their fate as they crashed into the hillside. However, we heard no singing and the boat didn't sink, so that's always good.

Jason was sitting in his chair minding his own business when this huge bee landed on his pants claiming its territory and refusing to leave. After he got up an didn't come back I turned around to find him dancing around. Watch this heroic slaying against the bee who would not concede (it took the final kick to defeat him).