Cologne

Cologne is our last port of call on the Rhine before we get to Amsterdam. We arrive in heavy rain, but by the next morning the skies have cleared and we join the boat's complimentary walking tour.

You will note that the river is very full and quite dirty.

We are heading to the Cathedral but firstly a stroll through the old quarter...

This is the old fish market

with another smaller church

Today fish restaurants still exist here, this one called "Herings"

One of my treats on this cruise has been to see the creative way that signs are produced and displayed for many shops and restaurants. It is such an elegant art form that is so different to our plastic neon place names. This one is just another wonderful example.

An interesting sculpture of two Jewish gentlemen debating something of importance. This Jewish Quarter was of course, totally obliterated during WWII.

An interest in beer seems universal...

Of course there is a Town Hall with statues of all those of importance to the city. All statues were replaced about 20 years ago!

This is the remarkable front of the building. It's extremely old. Right next to it under the flags is the largest archeological dig happening in Europe. Here they have been excavating for 2 years and have located a large Roman cityscape. The excavations are nearly complete and soon they will cover them all with a big museum where you will be able to descend to the lower levels and see complete street scenes. The city seems very excited over this happening.

Now we have arrived at the Cologne Cathedral 

This is what has made Cologne a pilgrims destination for two thousand years. It's the relics (the bodily remains) of the Three Wise Men from that first Christmas.

The stained glass windows are magnificent as this sample indicates

Near the square of the Cathedral there is a vast shopping network of streets. Everything is new here as nothing was left after the devastation of WWII.

Ice creams... YUM!!!!

Cabaret is still very much alive here as this poster indicates

But now it's time to farewell Cologne and cruise on to Amsterdam. We're now in the Industrial section of the Rhine so there is NOTHING worth photographing. All we saw were huge nuclear power stations that are now being converted to more eco friendly scenarios, huge factories belching steam and smoke, farmland, and storage facilities. Little wonder we sailed much of the journey at night to wake at our mooring in Amsterdam.

As we cruised out we got another look at the magnificent Cathedral

 In the tent on the right Opera is being performed during the summer months.

Next stop: Amsterdam.