Cologne, Konigswinter & Liege

On the fifth day of our trip, Josh and I took the train from Amsterdam to Cologne.  It was only suppose to be a two hour train ride, but it ended up taking us about 4 hours!  The train was forced to stop on the way because someone either walked in front of or jumped from our train or the train in front of us...we never really did find out.  We sat and watched as police with cadaver dogs walked up and down the tracks looking for...well...parts.  Yick. 

The police outside of our train to Cologne.

We finally made it to Cologne and stopped by our hotel room to drop off our stuff.  Our hotel was right across the street from the train station, which was very convenient.  From our balcony, if you looked to the right, you could also see the Cologne Cathedral, which was very impressive all lit up at night!

Cologne Cathedral from our hotel.

 Since we arrived later than expected in Cologne, we were hungry and ready to find a snack.  Josh was dying to have a bratwurst since we were in Germany so we headed out to find some. 

Currywurst!

Josh discovered Currywurst while we were in Cologne.  They cut up a brat and cover it in a curry sauce, he loved it...me, not so much.  I stuck to a traditional brat.  It was surprising to us that whenever we ordered a bratwurst, it wasn't served on a bun like we would expect in the States.  In Cologne they serve the bratwurst cut up. 

The next day, our first stop was to tour the Cologne Cathedral.  It was another cold and dreary day, so it was nice to be inside for a little while!  The Cathedral is really amazing, it has very intricate detail and there are even Roman ruins in the basement.  The best part was being able to climb to the top of the bell tower and get a fantastic view of the city. 

Cologne Cathedral

Inside the Cologne Cathedral

Giant bell in the bell tower at Cologne Cathedral.

We were actually in the bell tower room when the bell's rang at the quarter hour.  It was so loud but very cool to watch! 

Cologne Cathedral from the Bell Tower

Cologne from the bell tower at Cologne Cathedral

Josh and I at a park in Cologne

After our tour of the Cologne Cathedral, we decided to go check out the Chocolate Museum.  Once we got there, we decided we would rather spend money on chocolate than the tour, so we bought gobs of yummy delicious chocolate and then gorged ourselves.  It was pretty awesome!  As we ate our chocolate, we wandered around and came across a pretty park in the middle of town.  There were spring flowers blooming everywhere, it was beautiful. 

Tulips and pansies in bloom.

Josh LOVED all the flowers :)

The park was on the way to some cable cars that we wanted to take a ride on.  The cable cars take you from one side of the river from another and let me tell you, I was freaking out a bit.  Me plus heights equals a very nervous girl!

Me, freaking out in the cable car.

Josh in the cable car.

Josh thought if was funny that I was freaking out a bit.  He kept trying to freak me out even more, just like a good husband should :)  Josh: "I wonder if we can get it to rock" Me: "Don't you dare Joshua!"  Thankfully, we made it across the river safe and sound!

View of Cologne from the cable car.

Josh and I decided that we wanted to take a side trip from Cologne the next day, so we spent a few hours online at Starbucks to try to figure out where to go.  We ended up deciding to take a train to Konigswinter, which is a small town on the Rhine river valley.  In Konigswinter is a really steep hill that leads to an old castle ruin.  We thought it sounded like a fun hike and it really was nice to get out of the city and see some of the German countryside. 

Me at the bottom of the super steep hill to the Castle.

The Rhine River Valley

Beautiful castle half way up to the other castle ruin.

After huffing and puffing our way up the steep incline, we finally made it to the castle ruins, which offered amazing views of the Rhine River Valley.  Josh and I sat down to have a snack and enjoy the view for a while. 

Part of the castle ruins.

Josh and I on the looking down over the Rhine river.

Some of the castle ruins

At the castle

After we toured the castle ruins, Josh and I decided to take advantage of the nearby forest and take a hike through the woods.  The forest that we went through was called, Siebengebirge, and it is the forest where Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is set.  The hike was great, it really made us feel like we were back home.  Josh loved it and he even found a deer stand!  He was in heaven.  

Can you spot the deer stand?

We decided to go a little further down the train line and stopped in Koblenz Germany.  Koblenz was a really nice city and I'm glad we had the time to stop and see another little town along the Rhine.  

A Catholic church in Koblenz Germany

Josh enjoying some ice cream in the Koblenz town square.

The river in Koblenz

Monument in Koblenz Germany

Me overlooking the Rhine river.

A random giant thumb in Koblenz Germany.  Thumbs up!

Parts of the Berlin Wall in Koblenz.

We loved our time in Koblenz and are so glad that we were able to visit more of Western Germany.  We headed back to Cologne on the train and had dinner at a restaurant that served a banana flavored beer, it sounds kind of gross, but it was actually really really good!  The next day we left early for our train back to Belgium and the final city of our trip, Liege.  

Josh and I having a drink and dinner in Cologne

Banana beer...it was really yummy!

 By the last few days of our trip, Josh and I were exhausted and not really wanting to walk around all day, but we trudged through it, and I am glad we did because Liege was a very nice city with a lot to see.   Liege reminded me a little bit of Paris. 

Church in Liege

Rowers on the river in Liege

We went to a huge outdoor market on Sunday morning that seemed to sell a little bit of everything.  We bought a couple bratwurst to eat as we wandered around.  It was fun to come across a stall selling chickens...they reminded us of the chickens we had when we lived in Springfield...awww...I miss our chickens!

Chickens at the market in Liege

After wandering around the market for a while, we went on a hunt for a set of stairs that were suppose to lead to a view of Liege from high up.  We found them and then slowly made our way up the huge staircase.

Crazy huge staircase in Liege

A view of the stairs from near the top.

A view of Liege from the top of the staircase.

Narrow streets in Liege

Liege Cathedral

We took a short tour of the Liege Cathedral.  It was another beautiful church, one of many on our trip.  After a while though, they all start to look the same :) 

Liege Cathedral

Courtyard at the Liege Cathedral

Josh being creepy at the Liege Cathedral :)

Alter at the Liege Cathedral

After eight days of traveling through Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, our trip was over.  Josh and I loved seeing more of Europe, but we were so ready to be back home in our little flat in London.  I wish that we would have had better weather for our trip and I think the next vacation we go on will be somewhere with a warmer climate!  I am ready for a beach and pure laziness!  I hope you all enjoyed the pictures!


Cheers,
Rachel