Cologne/Dusseldorf

In Cologne we of course did a walking tour through. This walking tour wasn't the best though it was trying too hard to be cool and ended up being kind of corny. The city itself was fun though they have some interesting architecture and sculptures. The river front area is by far the best feature and has great restaurants and is just really pretty.

We went to a Chocolate Museum which was my lindt chocolates. Learned a lot about the industry to grow and harvest the beans then the shipping and making of the chocolate. My favourite part was that we got to watch them actually make chocolate in the museum so you could see the whole process.

After the Chocolate Museum we caught a train the Dusseldorf which was only a little ways by train. We got off in a modern city but kept walking towards the pedestrian area thanks to sons signs and found the old town. It was so much fun lots of energy and shops. Picked up a new nutcracker by Christian Ulbrecht that did my other nutcracker as well. Then we ate at one of the brewery/restaurants in town and were waited on by some fun old men. The food was good and the beer was as well. We were definitely smiling on put long walk back to the train station.

The next day before heading to Brussels on our 2:45pm train we went to the Gestapo museum which was where they interrogated and tortured people towards the end of the war. It was heart breaking to see all of the inscriptions in the tiny cells that were designed for 1 to 2 people but often held closer to 30 and some people were there for months and sometimes were held more than once.  After the museum we got out last German meal and browsed some shops.

Germany was fun I will definitely have to come back to see more.

Copenhagen/Hamburg

Yesterday we got up early to get to the train station hoping to get to Hamburg at a reasonable time. When we got to the train station we find out we couldn't leave until 2:40 so we stored our luggage and went out into the city again. We visited the Town Hall and the Round Tower. Round Tower was quite unique since it had a speak ramp most of the way to the top and not stairs. There was an art exhibit about half way up with the architectural models of buildings that were built and ones that were not. 

We caught the bus to connect to a train to Hamburg on time at 2:40. The bus was OK but a train would have been nicer of course. We realised we needed to be on the bus thought to take a ferry away from the island Copenhagen was on. Turns out our ferry was late. By the time we got to our connection we had all missed it (3 buses of people in total). Our option was to wait almost an hour until the next express or take a local to Lubetz then transfer to another train to Hamburg. We took that option as that train was actually pretty convenient. We finally made it to Hamburg just before 10pm so we didn't see much until today.  We checked out of our hotel in Hamburg this morning then went on a walking tour of the city for about 3 hours. I actually really liked the city. The brick buildings and unique architecture. It really felt like a city with heart and soul. I hope I get to visit again someday.

We caught a train out of Hamburg to Cologne. It was a 4 hour ride and we got in town with just enough time for dinner at a restaurant with actual German food. Out first view when we left the train station is the cathedral at the top of this post I think it bodes well for the rest of time in Cologne.

Quick travelling

I actually don`t remember what I posted last, so here is a run down of the days since Paris. I left Paris, excited to leave the city. I tried Caen but it was a weird Normandy city where everything was closed. Bah, no fun. So I hopped another train to Bayeux which was the perfect little town. Nice quiet and well quiet. I did see the tapestry which was great, and I found a place to stay. It is actually a very old building with really comfy beds even if the layout is rather strange. liked it there, but not for longer than a day. spend off to Strasbourg the next day. I basically spent the whole day on the train which was fine I guess. I liked Strasbourg and stayed for the next night as well. Even though a couple of guys did try to pick me up and one actually followed me for blocks. Scary. I enjoyed wandering and getting lost there. Oh and I walked across town (an hour and a half by foot) and crossed to border into Germany. Now I am on my quick trip through Switzerland. The people seem to be nice in Lausann as long as they are not working. This hostel is weird, but at least there are lots of people. Tomorrow I am off to Berne, then Lucerne, Interlaken and finally Zurich before heading off to Italy. I cannot believe I have been gone for 2 weeks, gah. I sort of wish it was time to go home but then again not. Yeah, weird.