Cologne in the palm of your hand

And a delicious breakfast is already waiting for us. Fragrant coffee, fresh bread, fine cheese, fruit, freshies - all recommended by the visitors. Have a nice start to the day!

We start the day with a visit to the antiquities. The western gate of the city wall of Cologne. How strong were the walls of the medieval city of Cologne, if we can still see such a strong gate! These gates are known since XIII century! They were the main entrance gates, through which emperors of the Holy Roman Empire solemnly drove after their coronation in Aachen. It's amazing!

The Cologne Town Hall, the oldest in Europe. Slim, airy, openwork. Decorated with figures of the patrons of Cologne, saints, prominent people. It is so beautiful and solemn. The sculptures on the tower of Cologne town hall can be traced the history of Cologne. On the second floor of the town hall is the famous Hanseatic hall. On the tower are bells that play different melodies on the hour (at 9, 12, 15 and 18 hours).

Just think! The Cologne Cathedral is just a stone's throw away! A lifelong dream, and certainly the main purpose of a visit to Cologne. In 1164, Frederick Barbarossa presented the bishop with the relics of the Holy Magi, and the pilgrimage to the shrine began. In 1248 the construction of the cathedral began and continued with interruptions until the end of the 19th century. The majestic, openwork, beautiful cathedral amazes with its beauty and power. Thousands of tourists and pilgrims visit the cathedral daily. The Cathedral is open from 6 am to 9 pm from May to October and from November to April from 6 am to 7:30 pm. Entrance to the treasury is 6 euros, climbing to the observation deck 4 euros. But how happy are those who have climbed those 533 steps! The view from the top is amazing! The symbol of Cologne, the heart of the city. The highest church in Germany.

An impressive view opens up from the Panorama, located in a high-rise building on the east bank of the Rhine. The ambitious idea of the Cologne architects succeeded. From a height of 100 meters it is breathtaking! Wonderful view of Cologne, the old city, the Cathedral. Cologne has the best panorama! The observation deck is glazed all around for safety reasons. The views are absolutely amazing. Go ahead, take your pictures! Choose the best ones later.

To avoid dizziness from altitude or hunger, it's time for lunch. Especially since visitors are very enthusiastic about the food served here. The pleasant atmosphere disposes to an unhurried lunch, which is more typical for sunny Italy than for Northern Europe. I like the fact that it's cooked in plain sight. Pizza, pasta, risotto, delicious desserts. There are vegan and gluten-free menus.

And after a tasty lunch, you're supposed to... No, not to sleep! Did you get dessert? No? Good for you! Because now we walk over the bridge over the Rhine and go to the Chocolate Museum. They'll show you how it's made and give you a treat. Dip your waffles in the chocolate fountain and enjoy!

40 minutes and we are in Bonn. We start to get acquainted with the market square. My God, what a beauty! What aromas! I just want to buy something. The building of the old town hall in the baroque style. It doesn't look that old. It's so well-kept! Nowadays weddings and receptions take place there. How nice that they have such short distances between cities, moving from city to city and constantly in touch with history.
On the perimeter of the square there are cozy cafes, a market place and the decoration of the square - a fountain.

Shouldn't we have dinner? We choose an Italian restaurant again. The pasta, pizza, salads are over the top. What can we do? The customers recommend it. We also liked the service.

How much has been reviewed, walked through, heard, seen, absorbed, and tasted today! It's time to rest, to let the impressions settle in my head.