Kinderdijk to Cologne

The Rhein (Rhine) is a much busier and larger waterway than the canal--barges and boats streaming past us in both directions. The day remained cloudy, but not terribly windy or cool. We set sail shortly after seeing the Kinderdijk site and made our way to the Rhein.More food for lunch, more for "tea" time, and then a presentation on the Netherlands' water management, the Dutch masters, and Gouda cheese.   After a FANTASTIC dinner of chateaubriand and again mega glasses of wine, Jane and I rolled back to our stateroom and relaxed for a bit.  Then I couldn't stand it any longer and again clothed up and hit the track on the deck, racking up a mile or two.  The clouds had dissipated and the milkly way winked at me as I paced solitarily round and around, again lost in the near darkness, contented and oh so sated.

Day Three:  Cologne

We awakened in the night, Jane spent a fair amount of time on the balcony, because we couldn't sleep...until we could.  Suddenly awakened and found it was already 9:30--unheard of for me to sleep like that.  We missed breakfast, but managed to get ourselves together for the 11 am. walking tour of Cologne, which ended at the cathedral.  I loved being back in the motherland where I know the language and experience a familiar culture.   

 Along the way we heard about the "must try" Golsch" beer.  We opted out of the tour to Palace Augustusburg.  Instead we hit the 4711 main store and museum, interesting shops and had to try one of those Golsch beers and enjoy a regular German meal.

     

  

After dinner we relaxed and then I again walked up on the deck's track--getting in 16600 steps in the last 24 hrs.  Maybe that will counter my beer drinking and kuchen eating.  Guess I can only hope. 

   As we pulled away from the gangplank around 11 pm,  Jane and I took in the marvelous view of the lights of Cologne--even those in the cathedral's spires.  Very cool.  Then we walked to the front of the ship and played Leo diCaprio a bit, but we didn't quite have the moves.