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| Baked goods made on board |
After a leisurely breakfast the ship docks at Cologne. Our guide tells us that the 2.5 million people of Cologne are more easy going and fun loving than what is normally associated with Germans. We love life and live it that way she says with a sense of humor.
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| Cologne |
We leave the ship for a walking tour of Cologne which was founded in the first century AD as the Roman Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium, from which it gets its name from the French version of the city's name, has become standard in English as well. The city functioned as the capital of the Roman province of Germania Inferior. During the Middle Ages it flourished on one of the most important major trade routes between east and west in Europe. Cologne was one of the leading members of the Hanseatic League in the Middle Ages and had undergone several occupations by the French and also by the British. Cologne was one of the most heavily bombed cities in Germany during World War II reducing the population by 95%, mainly due to evacuation, and destroyed almost the entire city. With the intention of restoring as many historic buildings as possible, the successful postwar rebuilding has resulted in a very mixed and unique cityscape.
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| Entry to cathedral |
We first visit the 13th century cathedral which is a UNESCO world heritage site, then visit the Overstolzenhausa or town hall, the Roman Germanic museum which has a Roman mosaic and we learn about the upcoming festival on the 11th.
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| Cologne Catherdral |
Traditionally, the "fifth season" (carnival season) is declared open at 11 minutes past 11 on the 11th of the 11th month November. The Carnival spirit is then temporarily suspended during the Advent and Christmas period, and picks up again in earnest after the 6 January (Biblical Magi) in the New Year. The time of merrymaking in the streets is officially declared open at downtown square Alter Market on the Thursday before the beginning of Lent. Street carnival, a week-long street festival, also called "the crazy days", takes place between the Fat Thursday (Weiberfastnacht) and ends on Ash Wednesday (Aschermittwoch). The highlight of the carnival is Rose Monday (Rosenmontag), two days before Ash Wednesday. All through these days, Cologne folks go out masqueraded. The typical greeting during the festival is Kajlle Alaaf!, a Kajlsch phrase which can be translated as "Cologne above all!"
We finish our city tour at the Brewery in the old Market where we have a glass of beer and a potato pancake with applesauce . We walk back to the ship in the old part of town and then along the river. The ship leaves Cologne as we sit down to a wonderful lunch with very nice seafood including salmon, halibut, shrimp and caviar.
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| All done. By putting your coaster on your mug tells the bartender "no more |
The ship sails on an during the afternoon we have a special tasting of dry creek Zinfandels with Bella, Collier Falls and Cast wineries. We catch up on things during the afternoon as we head for Koblenz Germany which is at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers and the convergence of three low mountain ranges: the Hunsrück, the Eifel and the Westerwald. This park and flower filled city is the northern gateway to the Romantic Rhine and the bottom of the Moselle Valley.
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| Zin tasting |
We have a wonderful dinner that is paired with Kachina wines. They do an interesting side by side pairing of 2 cabernet sauvignon and salmon and beef. After dinner there is a shore walk that we passed on because of the rain. There is a little music and dancing before the day ends.
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| Kachina's main course. Salmon, Porchini Sauce, Herb Stuffed Rib Eye, Roasted Vegetables, Parmesan Polenta, |
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