5 April 2017 - Day 5 Trip - Day 3 cruise - Cologn, Cathedrals and Chocolate

We woke up and it was a  nice day but windy. We had a lovely breakfast and collected in the main atrium to go on our separate walking tours.  We were 39F, the older slower group. 

We headed up away from the port where we were docked and our tour guide told us about the history of the area and its buildings on our way to the cathedral of St Stevens. The entire area around the cathedral had been levelled by bombing during the war, the train station was located right next door and so that made it a target. The cathedral however was spared somewhat except for the side facing the train station. It was beautiful inside with lots of medieval art and artifacts. 

We then moved on to the old town past a museum of old roman artifacts including a large intact mosaic floor on display through windows. Luckily there was a washroom there so we all took advantage of that. We proceeded to old town with its Ratskeller building which its its town hall, there is a clock in the square with the carving of a mans face and supposedly he stuck his tongue to at the top of the hour. 

 We continued through the narrow streets back to the river and followed the river to the cruise ship where we said good bye to our guide. He was very good and did not keep us too long in any one place.

 Margie and I wanted to go and see the Lindt chocolate museum just down the river a bit so we went there and we enjoyed the history of Lindt with lots of old chocolate machines and pots for hot chocolate. we bought some for family and ate some of the schokoladen ourselves. We saw the biggest easter bunny I have ever seen and the machine where they made thousands of chocolates an hour. 

We went back to the square to see and had a hot chocolate waiting for the carving of the mans face to stick his tongue out but he did not, I guess he did not work anymore. he was still cute in his own way. 

We then wandered around and found a small pub the “Kastellsgafbchen” where we ordered a beer. It was good. We then walked back through the main square and down to the river and there was  a church with bells going on and a large crowd enjoying it. Back on board ship we put our treasures of the day away and went for dinner which was very good.