Avalon - Day 3 Cont'd

 July 11th - Avalon Day 3 - Cologne

We're approaching Cologne, visible tower and cathedral not bombed as they were used as markers. One guest showed us pictures of newspaper clipping of the destruction after the war - these two on opposite sides of the river were all that were standing then.

Cologne Cathedral 

Hmmmm, not sure what was happening here, hope it was a drill or refresher course.

So we started our tour at the then "fish market" square where whiter stone on buildings marked the rebuilt spots. The tax tower survived too and collected monies from all vessels, that's why Cologne prospered.  

St Martin Church

Tax Collecting Tower

Tunnes and Schal, good luck statues, rub one's nose and the other's toe at the same time.

Gothic Tower of 1300 original Town Hall.

Water fountain of Jan von Werth.

One of our walking groups heading to Cologne Cathedral. 

WOW!!!

See the following picture for info.

I just loved this building and roof top garden or terrace.

This was nifty too!

OMGG I barely did the 1.5 hour walk in the downtown area as it was in the 30's with blaring sunshine, yes I had sunscreen on. We saw the area where they are building a museum at the place the Jewish Synagogue was destroyed, the Farina family perfume factory where eau de Cologne originated from plus other scents, some history of the war and rebuilding still in progress. The cathedral has another cathedral below ground and the gold tomb of the relics of the three wise men but our tours did not include the insides.

I barely crawled back to the ship for a much needed reawakening. 

I neededthis after cleaning off the heat and grime.

Tonight I asked if I could join a family for supper - lovely! 

WOW!!!

Then onto the deck for a couple loops on the Sky Deck before going to the Lounge for tonight's "Groove Band" and watch mostly those dancing. 

St Martin Church from Imagery II Sky Deck.

And the Cologne Cathedral.

The Groove Band.

Having fun!

I was hauled up for one song and thankfully my hip/leg was not screaming at me! So now it's crash time, so I can be fresh for tomorrow's full day through the Rhine Gorge and Rudesheim! In 65 kms there are "FORTY" yes "40" castles! AND we get to see them again in the evening on a return journey to Koblenz and Remich! Honest I'll not post all of them, probably not even take all of them as they are on both sides of the river!!!