Tuesday, 16 June 2015

Day 85 15 June 2015 Cologne to Amsterdam

Elizabeth had some breakfast this morning but was not well enough to go on the walking tour.  It was overcast today and a bit chilly today. Our guide was called Christian was very amusing.  We saw the Old Town where we saw the Fish market, the Hay Market the Town Hall and the Praetorium (the Roman governor’s Palace).

Caption
Not the main cathedral!  In the foreground are the buildings in the Fish Market.




The middle two blue plaques show the flood heights.

The most important woman in the towns’ history, who, according to our guide was Agripinna the Younger who was responsible for the foundation of Cologne (or Koln). We were shown the flood levees and he had some useful advice on statues.  Apparently anywhere in Germany if there is a statue on horseback, it is Fredrick. Wilhelm or Frederick-Wilhelm.  He seems to be right.



Above the Town Hall with medieval excavations in the foreground; and the Cologne cathedral,

The Cologne Cathedral was impressive in size.  Inside all of the stained glass windows were impressive, except strangely enough, for the main one which was. Inside were a couple of altar pierces and the gold coffins holding the remains off the Three Wise Men. The museums were all closed today which is a pity, especially as the Lindt Chocolate Museum is next to our moored ship.

During lunch we left for Amsterdam which took us past Dusseldorf which had a mixture of older and modern buildings with some large bridges.  Tonight we had the Gala farewell dinner and we thanked the crew. Lobster tail…yummy. 


Above is the coffin reputed to contain the bones of The Three Wise Men.

We passed during the night the town of Nijmegen (and casino) which featured in Operation Market-Garden in 1944. This was a major airborne landing by the Allies to try to force a crossing across the Rhine end the war. Tomorrow we dock in Amsterdam. 

Looking wast.




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