The day has finally come, the day I've been looking forward to, the day I'm finally going to visit Germany again.
I only have less than three days in Amsterdam but I definitely had planned to visit the nearest German town I found - Cologne. So weeks before the end of the course, I have already bought my ticket which cost me Euro63 return fare. Not bad, right? I so miss Germany. This time, my new friend John has decided to go with me.
Last night, as I was telling me officemate about my plan for today, he also decided to join us. So early this morning, we headed out early towards the Centraal Station, which is like I said, only a couple of minutes away from our hotel, so that the two guys who decided to join me can buy their tickets. When I heard that they're tickets were only Euro60, I was so glad because I thought it would be expensive. Only to find out that their ticket was just one way! My goodness. I guess it really pays for being early sometimes. Also, my ticket allows me to use the subway because it's a German ticket, unlike theirs, which is Dutch (there's a difference?), like what the kind conductor explained to us.
So anyway, the train ride going to Cologne was a bit less than three hours and the guys spent most of it sleeping. I tried staying awake for the whole trip so I can see the countryside but unfortunately, I also found myself asleep after an hour or so. Maybe it's also because the sky outside was so gloomy gray. When we left Amsterdam, it was really cold, around 6C, and it was drizzling.
One thing I actually learned during the train ride was that (although I should have expected it), when the light is red beside the chair, it means that the seat is reserved.
Arriving in Cologne, I learned that the Metz station is only a stone throw's away from the central hauptbanof (I was puzzling over it when I was planning my trip) and that entering the city, one would be greeted by the Dom (like how it was that the Fortress site would greet you upon arrival in Salzburg). J and I finally decided that we would see that first. True enough, that was what greeted us when we left the station (okay, our first exit from the station was at the back so we had to return and exit on the other side).
The Dom is pretty spectacular especially it's ceilings and stained glass window. I particularly like one tapestry which really, really looks old and has the image of Christ on the cross. I didn't get to see the inside of the front, though (I would later find out that they say that the bones of the three Magis lie here). After the Dom, we passed by the tourist center located in front of the Dom, and then later take pictures of the old Roman ruin just right in the center of it. We then proceeded towards the Rhine River where we could walk towards the Chocolate Museum -- one of my many goals in that trip! But before that, J and I took a look at some of the Roman ruins that are being displayed in the museum beside the Dom, while C was taking all the pictures that he wanted.
(Top left clockwise: Auf Wiedersehen! Entrance/Exit from the Cologne Station; stairs leading to Platforms 4 and 5 at the Koln Hauptbahnof; Hauptbahnof from the outside; inside the train going to Koln; a worker putting up Christmas decors at the station; bread shop; taxi stands in front of the Koln Cathedral)
After taking pictures, we decided to go back and walk along the Rhine towards the Chocolate Museum. But this was already lunchtime so we decided to go into this one restaurant beside the river. When we entered, I had a few qualm about staying because on one side of the bar, there was a 'crowd' of guys drinking beers and were so rowdy that the waitress already looked stressed serving them. Fortunately, they left before we even have decided on an order. When the waitress finally gave us the menu, I looked and suggested to J some food and we decided on a Cologne Tapas set which was later served with one huge platter which was really a 'to-share' size. There was dry bread, spread, salad, cheese, potato, chips, sausage, and bacon. The sausage was particularly good and when I asked, the waitress said it's a 'blood' sausage. I'm so glad I ate it first before finding out what it is or else I would miss the chance of tasting something really good in the German cuisine.
After lunch, J and I decided to go on again with our walking tour and we ended up in a Nutcracker store. It was really a fine example of German craftsmanship although I am not sure about German hospitality. The proprietor looked cross, his work we cannot even touch nor take pictures of. But definitely, the items were really amazing - all handcrafted, even to the tiniest detail, like the sheep in the Nativity Scene.
While going towards the Chocolate Museum, we bumped into C again and he decided to walk with us going there. The museum is quite big and has the machines which makes the chocolate. The windows are clear so we can see the whole process of making little chocolate bars. One of my particular favorites in the museum was the world map which shows where significant cacao are being farmed -- like the Philippines! But of course, compared to Africa and Latin America, we only provide the world with little percentage of the whole world need. The second favorite of mine is the rainforest. My goodness, I didn't realize it could be that warm in a rainforest! I thought I was burning due to the heat and humidity but it was fun seeing familiar plants like banana, anthuriums, palms and of course, cacao tree. My third favorite is being served chocolate on a wafer stick from this huge table of Lindt chocolate (with a huge golden cacao behind the server). The chocolate was so good I had to go for a second round. Just so yummy. Last favorite is the chocolate store where one could find lots and lots of chocolates. Unfortunately, I couldn't buy everything as I am conscious of my baggage allowance. Though one of my favorite buys is the coffee-flavored chocolate with a cover whose design is hemp. I bought some for my boss and my officemate who particularly asked for a chocolate with hemp from Amsterdam. I couldn't buy him one like that for fear of getting caught by the Philippine immigration so this chocolate will have to do.
The day was so fast but we were still able to visit a couple of Churches which were built during the Roman period. It didn't look quite what I expected (more modern that what I thin a Roman church would be) but I guess over the years, they had been renovated but if one would look closely at the stone walls, it is particularly old.
Our last stop though was a German souvenir shop where we bought our ref magnets and postcards. The snow globe which my friend Anni requested, I bought at the store beside it, because the first souvenir shop doesn't have a snow globe with Germany written on it. My best buy though is this cute, 5-6" high wooden Christmas tree. I so, so love it!!! :)
While walking back towards the center (even before the souvenir shop), the rain started falling and the wind turned really cold and even at around 4-5p, the sky was already dark. Although I love the town, I would have wanted to stay in one place already and feel warm. Inside the train station, I also saw men putting up Christmas lights. How I wish I could stay longer and experience Christmas season in Germany, especially the Christmas market. Well, someday soon. But for now, we had to get back to Amsterdam.
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