THE CATHEDRAL OF KOLN, GLORIOUS HEIGHTS!

Hotel Blucheral aka ______________________
Blucherstrasse 162
Bacharach, Germany
Tuesday, July 3, 2024
60sF, 70F, sun with intermittent rain

 

Late tonight, will do my best with slow Internet, Dear Readers-

Today’s adventure took us to Koln/Cologne, about 2 hours by train away. We passed through Koblenz where my Great Uncle Archie was stationed in World War I as part of the Army of Occupation (90^th Division) when Germany surrendered.  I do love seeing the cities Archie was in, just like when we toured France on World War I tours, seeing sites he may have seen, the Rhine River, the large city, and several old churches.

 We are really acclimated to train rides now, like finding seats, the smells (garlic, sausage, etc.), discovery of what works in the bathrooms, which seats face the direction we are traveling, how  many bikes fit in front of the bathroom door, jumping off the train in a timely manner, danke, bitte.

Cologne, the 4^th largest city in Germany, is a 2,000-year-old city spanning the Rhine River in western Germany, the region’s cultural hub. “A landmark of High Gothic architecture set amid reconstructed old town, the twin-spired Cologne Cathedral is also known for its gilded medieval reliquary and sweeping river views.  Population 1.1 million.

The train station was fabulous, packed with people who had places to go, and what an array of food choices!  Bakeries, sandwich shops, cheese stores, candy stores, Dunkin Donuts, KFC, McDonald’s, sushi, and Country Fair type stores. I opted for a small Burger King hamburger, TK had a pretzel.

After our light lunch, we exited the station only to see the largest cathedral I had ever seen, an overpowering view—all in her glory!  The Cathedral of Cologne is the tallest twin spired church in the Europe—each spire is 515 ft. tall, and the 3^rd tallest in the world.  Begun in 1248, the church took about 300 years to complete. During WWII, the Allies used it as a navigational target since Cologne was a major industrial city. It was hit by 14 different bombs at different times, but the structure remained intact.

 

The church is famous for its Reliquary for the remains of the Three Kings, the Gothic architecture, and the stained-glass windows. With 6 million visitors yearly, it is the most visited site in Germany.

The crucifix of the Bishop of Gero (10^th c.) is the oldest known large crucifix.

After our time in the Cathedral  we spotted a Starbucks, thanks to Derek nearby and bought a Koln mug!

 

We hopped on a bus to the Lindt Chocolate Factory and Museum! This museum traced the entire history of chocolate with dynamic displays. Along the way we scored at least 7-8 pieces of chocolate to enjoy. This museum is visited by 650,000 people yearly.

 

Janie and TK riding the bus to the 

Lindt Chocolate Factory

One highlight was the 9.8 ft. tall chocolate fountain.

 

TK’s Takes: More train rides, castles along the Rhine, Gouda cheese. Sixty-four (64) steps to get to our room in this hotel...

And by the way, he trudges down and back up in the morning when he gets coffee and brings me a cup with a croissant.  The perfect husband.

 

 MJ: 14,612

TK:  13,500

FROM MEDIEVAL TO GOTHIC IN BACHARACH, GERMANY!

Hotel Blucheral
Blucherstrasse 162
Bacharach, Germany
Monday, July 2, 2024
60sF, 70F, sun and some sprinkles

Bacharach!

We left Tubingen behind at 8 a.m. this morning and five trains later we arrived in Bacharach, Germany on the Rhine River.   

 The trains in Germany seem to follow a strict schedule and generally when we get off one train, the next is soon to be there for us. Moving from town to town means we are still schlepping luggage. Sometimes there are elevators. Derek is lugging luggage to help, thank goodness, but we try to handle it as best we can. Our group learned to stay close to Derek and jump on the trains in a very speedy manner. Finding a seat is interesting too, and we can’t always sit together. I find the Germans are quite polite, and I am sure they know we are American. One lady did ask me if I was Serbian—I don’t know where that came from!

Just sitting on a train, next to the "Water Closet"

An ad in a train station promoting

home insurance

"We recommend for Price and Efficiency

Home Insurance of WGV"

Translated by Derek

Views along the Rhine River on our train ride

Farming along the Rhine

Derek also places everyone’s luggage in the overhead bins—that is quite a feat.  I can lift both my pieces onto the train, but overhead, no.   

TK in front of Hotel Bluchertal

Anyway, by 2:30 p.m. we checked into our new hotel, Hotel Bluchertal in Bacharach.  And, all our rooms are on the 3^rd floor, translated to 6 flights of stairs.  Our room has two beds, a balcony, and a curtain between the bath and beds.  This is an interesting hotel, something like Friend Judy (School in France) and I stayed in during the late 60s.

Two beds

Bath

Curtain door (photo for TK)

Fire alarm and overhead light

(photo for TK)

Firefighter TK always wants to know where the alarms are

No firescape in sight

One view from our balcony

Another view from our balcony

 This small village, population about 2000, is located about 30 miles from Koblenz (Cologne) in the Rhine Gorge. The original name, Baccaracus, suggests a Celtic origin.  The town thrives on tourism, and wine from this region is very popular internationally.

We can certainly attest to its charm---clock tower bells ringing, some medieval buildings dating to the 1300s and earlier-timber frame houses along the town wall by the Rhine, an old postal station, an old mint, marketplace, ruins of a Gothic chapel, and the town fortifications are among the best preserved in the region.

Quite quickly we all agreed we were hungry—a restaurant next door to the hotel was open, Café Bistro Noy, and wow!  Everything was super fresh—I had schweineschnitzel and TK tried something different—will try to name later.  Their warm homemade apple strudel was special too with ice cream and real whipped cream.

Short walk to dinner

The gang at dinner

Apple strudel

(If I only remembered to take

photos before we started eating...)

(Side note: no desk in room, so I am using the table on the balcony-no electric outlet so hope the charge lasts).

After dinner we walked around the town, thus many photos.

Jim and Ann under an arch

Bacharach

Bacharach

City of Bacharach and

its crest

We passed gorgeous gardens

Note the trumpet flower

Bacharach

Another arch 

TK found another arch!

This is a great cohesive group, really lots of fun—this blog may not seem exciting, but we have had a lot of laughs together.

Short on steps today! Too much train riding-

MJ:  6987

TK: tbd

LIVING LIKE ROYALTY: HOHENZOLLERN PALACE OF SIGMARINGEN

 

Hollenzollern Palace in Sigmaringen, Germany

Metropol Apartments

Muhlstrasse 1

Tubingen, Germany

July 1, 2024

72F, sunny, but dark clouds and a few raindrops followed us.

 

It was a lazy morning because our train to Sigmaringen, Germany did not depart until later. The group had breakfast, a break for shopping and more coffee, then the usual run to the train station.

Breakfast at Collegium

Inside Collegium in Tubingen

TK had a pretzel, butter, and cream cheese

Tubingen

More coffee

Great department store

Dear Readers, come along with us to the palace!

After an hour and a half train ride, we arrived in Sigmaringen to see the Hollenzollern Palace. Its magnificence, splendor, and grandeur were evident today as we followed a guide speaking German. We had handheld guides in English, but I was trying to take pictures with the T7i, while holding my purse and dodging those who prefer to stand in front of my camera and the best shots. I say that lightly because I am sure I have done the same thing.

TK eagerly awaits entry to the palace

Sights one should see entering a castle/palace-weapons

For my brother

The Hohenzollerns were an influential noble family of strategists, diplomats, and visionaries. I remember a history teacher of long ago, either in France or high school speaking of the Hohenzollerns, and claims were made today that they had a greater influence than almost any other noble family.

 

I love this marble fireplace

View from window

Sitting area

Bedtime

Bath

Chair with inlaid pearl hunting scenes

Closeup of chair

Desk

This blog will be mostly photos so you will be able to see the grandeur we experienced today!

 

Flintlock like my Uncle Robert gave my 

father--from Middle East

Pearl inlay

More of the armory exhibit

Armory

The palace houses one of the largest private weapons and armor collections in Europe, comprising around 3000 rare and valuable exhibits. Seven hundred years of history of arms and armor.

Crossbows

Children's furniture

Kitchen tools

Oven 

Marble door frame

I'm hoping we can install a door like this

Chairs fit for a prince

Gaming table

 After our princely experience we were hungry. Consensus was a Pizza/Kebab fast food stop.

Pasams Pizza and Kebabs

Wrapping

TK's sandwich--Jim had one too

Hackfleischdrehspriess im Fladenbrot

minced beef, tomato, lettuce, cucumber, 

garlic sauce, on flatbread

Ann and Janie shared a Margharita Pizza

Not far from Pasam we enjoyed gelato again, salted caramel-TK; raspberry-Janie

Italian Eis Cafe

Raspberry Gelato

TK's Takes:  Finally able to try doner (the beef kebab sandwich, he really liked it.

Messages from our sons--First, I am grateful that they are reading the blog:

R: "Looks like you're getting your steps in according to the blog."

B: "I see you are busy running all over the place."

 

Today:     Janie:  10,605;  TK: 10,772 (he got more today because I spilled the cup of coffee  he bought for me on a run before we left the hotel. Being the very generous person he is, he went back and got me another cup. Although that might have been because of my sparkling personality before I have coffee in the morning)