Day 3: Rudesheimer to Cologne on the Rhine
It is the first official day of the tour! Today’s itinerary includes a riverboat cruise down the Rhine from Rudesheimer to Cologne, with opportunities to explore both. After an included breakfast, the bus left the hotel promptly at 8. After a short ride through wine country, the bus arrived bright and early in the charming village of Rudesheimer. Lynne and Leona were able to explore for about an hour before departing on their cruise, avoiding crowds and enjoying the village’s architecture and Christmas decorations.
A side street in Rudesheimer
Once aboard the cruise, Lynne and Leona indulged in local wine and enjoyed the view of more beautiful riverside villages.
The riverboat
If they were to stand on the deck of the boat, Lynne and Leona would likely smell the city of Cologne before they could see it thanks to the Lindtt chocolate factory along the river. The smell of chocolate wafts through the market, tempting even those who turn their noses up at chocolate. The factory features a chocolate museum and a massive store featuring Lindtt treats not found anywhere else, as well as a cafe. They had a few hours to explore, but the factory was quite busy with weekend crowds so Lynne and Leona decided to use the trolly system to explore the markets and the stunning gothic style Cologne Cathedral. For a mere 3 Euro, this landmark is a must see.
The Cologne Cathedral
The Cologne Cathedral is truly a sight to behold. A world heritage site, construction began in 1248 and was periodically stopped until it final completion in 1880. Sections of the final floor have been excavated to reveal the original stone foundation, which became buried over the centuries. The Cathedral contains priceless art pieces and artifacts, most notably the Shrine of the Three Kings, traditionally believed to contain the remains of the Three Wise Men from the story of Jesus’ birth. It is worth noting that there are more in depth tours available and guests can climb the tower if the are willing the brave the tiny staircase!
The Cologne Christmas market is very popular with locals and tourists alike, and because Lynne and Leona arrived on a weekend the market was extremely busy. They opted to save their shopping for a less busy market visit, and instead focused their visiting hours on the Cathedral.
The busy street trolley
Later, the group checked in to the Leonardo Koeln Airport where they enjoyed dinner which was included by the tour before settling down for the night. The room is once again considered moderate, is comfortable and it’s spotlessly clean (which is standard for German hotels).
Leonardo Koeln Airport Hotel, Cologne
**Pro Tip** Most rooms do not include an alarm clock, wake up calls or USB charging for mobile devices. It’s good practice to have a converter with a surge protector for your devices and the voltage is higher in German outlets.
Tomorrow morning the tour moves on to Hamburg.