Cologne 🇩🇪 - Skjope 🇰🇵(North Macedonia)

A long day that's still not over for me 😊

The alarm came quickly this morning after a wee hours bedtime but I was excited for my 2nd Aussie visit in two days. Today was the lovely Louise who has just started her holidays and managed to create a 2hr stop over in Cologne as her train route was to go past.

We had a special couple of hours of catching up, morning tea (had a repeat of the delicious strawberry pastry from yesterday) and some local sightseeing before waving her off to her next adventure. 😊

Then, time for a sobering museum visit for me.

The NS Documentation museum site, home of the Nazi movement. The site has been recreated and is packed full of records, a timeline of events outlining the indoctrination and rise of the Nazi movement, the effects it had on citizens of Cologne, the brutality experienced by those considered 'unworthy of life' due to disability, physical appearance, nationality (Jew) etc.

they have preserved inscriptions and drawings grafitti that the accused scraped into the plaster walls in the basement cells of the jail,

plus the courtyard where executions took place. Only 23 people who were sent to concentration camps from Cologne survived 😥 A difficult place to visit. In 1943, the destruction of the city meant that 1/3 of the citizens were homeless.

I then went back to make some lunch and pack a small bag before heading to the Brauwelt brewery to meet a fellow volunteer Sabine for a tour (volunteer discount).

The guide was extremely knowledgeable. The Kolsch beer can only be called that if brewed within 30km radius of the Cologne Cathedral.

We got to try some beer fresh from the vat and you could definitely taste the freshness.

We were then invited to join some English guys for a few drinks

and watched some soccer at the brewery beer garden before we headed to a kebab shop for dinner and then Sabine walked me to the train station.

My 11.10pm flight has been delayed till 1.30am, arriving hopefully to my hostel by 4.45am ish 🙄🙄. I have a tour booked for 9am and so my run of short nights of sleep continues 😂

Looking forward to exploring my 20th country this trip😊

Cologne 🇩🇪

Today began with an early tram to meet the wonderful Karen currently travelling in Europe.  What a delight to spend the morning with my lovely Brisbane friend.

 

First up was a walk through the Cathedral and then a walk up the Cathedral steps.  533 steps up and 533 steps down and rewarded with a 360 degree view on a blue sky 29 degree day. 

We then wandered along with Tiff's guided city tour

and went to the Chocolate Museum and factory.  An in depth look at how chocolate is made, the import and export market in Europe and the world and then the factory which produces all the chocolate that the visitors eat.  Yummy samples too 😊

Said our farewells and hugs and then zoomed home to change and off to the stadium for game 4. 

We have a fabulous team and supported the England vs Slovenia match (0-0) well.  I got to go into the stadium for 10 mins and the crowd erupted into the English National anthem while I was there which gave goosebumps.

We had a celebratory drink and I ran and caught the last tram but missed my connection 🙄 one of my colleagues helped me rent a bike and I rode the last 4kms home, arriving by 2am 😅

Cologne🇩🇪

A day being a tourist on a gorgeous sunny 28 degree day.  

I took advantage of some of the freebies and offers available to UEFA volunteers in the city today. First up a double decker bus tour of the city and surrounds. The brightly painted old bus has little suspension which added to the fun of the tour.

With 10 volunteers booked on the tour, we were tasked to find 10 tourists who would like a free ride and join us. Was very cool to walk up.to tourists from a range of countries and offer a free spontaneous trip 😊

Interesting sights from the Cathedral

, beautiful churches, the TV Broadcasting centre which is 2nd only to the BBC in Europe

, the Train station where Jews were sent to concentration camps, Ice Hockey stadium

and lots of Bridges.

Then off to see a few museums but discovered most are closed Mondays.  

The Korumba museum was open. What an extraordinary architectural masterpiece. This is the site of a church built in Roman times, expanded over the years, significantly damaged during WWII but then incredibly preserved in its ruined state with ultra modern architecture to create a museum and then art gallery on the site.

The art was just a bit too abstract for me but the building was well worth seeing.  

Then a wander through the leafy Belgium district with stylish cafes and shops and I had a cherry crumble cheesecake type of dessert 😊

I then walked through the city and over the bridge to the 'Triangle' which is an office building with a 360 degree observation deck on top giving clear views to the hills I cycled yesterday in one direction and to the Dragonfels castle I visited high on a hill a couple of weeks ago.

I finished my day at the TimeRide 3D experience. This took me to Cologne in 1920. First we watched a black and white movie of life in Cologne in 1920 and then to a beautifully styled 1920's Hat Shop where we learners how felt hats are made and then boarded an 1920's tram and put on our VR headset for a very realistic tram ride with commentary from the virtual conductor pointing out the sights. Really well done experience and incredible to attend for free.

The English are arriving ahead of the game tomorrow night and doing their best to take over the city with football banners tied to monuments and fences and pubs and cafes spilling over with shirtless guys enjoying the sunshine and a beer or two or three.  

22kms walked and many things experienced. Back and ate some leftovers and re-packed my pannier bags. Another wonderful day in Germany 😊