I was off the boat early in search of provisions from the Apotheke - and I wasn't the only one doing it. On the way back I met another couple off the boat who were in search of one - and I was able to point them in the direction - up the street, slight left at the demolition site and then on to the next block.
The tour groups had set off while I was at the Apotheke so I checked with Ivan (program director) when I passed him on his way back to the boat - and yes, the Cathedral was about where I thought it was but he suggested that rather than going straight along the river and turning left that I just wander through the old town and follow the spires until I got there. I passed one tour group on the way there - they were standing in front of a chocolate shop and Vi who was with them - she had not wandered off with Syl and An who, along with a few others, had not been able to cope with their meandering guide. I could tell that Vi wished that she had wandered off as well. I kept walking through the old part of town, taking photographs as I went, and was surprised when I met up with the group I had been going to go with - and more surprised when I caught up with them before they entered the Cathedral. M, who was with them, said what a wonderful guide they had and since I had forgotten my listening device (I really hadn't expected to catch up with them), that I should stand close to him so I could hear what he was saying. He was interesting and I was a bit sorry when he sent us all off into the Cathedral (or wherever we wanted to go) to have our free time.
The Cathedral was amazing. There are pictures, but I don't think they do them justice! There would have been more pictures but they were closing off part of the Cathedral for worship. We were welcomed to stay, but a lot of us did not.
Our guide had pointed out a coffee shop that, while a tad more expensive, was very well thought of, and that was where I found M and I had a quick coffee with her before going back to the boat to have lunch with Sooz. I'm sorry I didn't need to use the facilities there because they were amaziing apparently. The door to the convenience was clear glass, but when you turned the knob to lock it, the glass went opaque!!!!
Sooz was feeling a bit better (thank you to the pharmaceutical supplies from the Apotheke) and came to lunch in the dining room rather than having it in the stateroom (although I still think it's small enough to be called a cabin).
She wasn't feeling up to coming back into Cologne after lunch so I took myself back to the Cathedral for another look at the detail on the exterior and then caught the tourist train around 'town'. It wasn't as good or as informative as the one in Nuremberg but it was something different to do and it did take me to the Chocolate Museum. I didn't get out there - and just as well because I would have been disappointed because it's closed on a Monday! I did see a strange looking contraption next door to the Chocolate Factory - which turned out to be a ferris wheel under construction. It was strange because there had been a ferris wheel on the other side of the river earlier, and during the day, as I later realised, it had been disassembled. I had taken photographs in its general directions a couple times during the day and when I looked at them properly, I could see it had been being taken down.
I arrived back at the boat towards dusk and was surprised to hear familiar sounds in nearby trees. It was like being on the Gold Coast near the Broadbeach sign and park there - where the lorikeets congregate at dusk and dawn. And yes, the sound was lorikeets. Apparently some had escaped from the local zoo 50 or so years ago and had managed to survive the non-Australian climate - and thrive.
Who knew they had Hot Chocolate in the hot beverage machine on the boat? And it's good too. Much better than the gluhwein I had the other day, or the other drink they were passing out during the sailing down the Rhine where they were trying to warm us up. (Did I say it had been cold enough to cause a nose bleed?) At least the gluwein didn't taste like the other drink we were offered - it was just a shot, and I don't think I''m exagerrating when I say it tasted like it could be used as fuel for jet aircraft.
Click here for more photos of the Cathedral.