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Floaty Rhine cruisers

3rd October 2023 funtime65

We could only watch with our noses up against the bus window at the floaty Rhine cruisers wending their way by.

Of course it’s what you aspire to but needs must when you’re a student or an OS (overseas) Aussie or Kiwi, so it was the Top Deck bus for us back then.

Mind you the booze was flowing and there was love (or lust) in the air as we headed back from the Oktoberfest in Munich.

Probably best then that they’d pencilled in a trip to church to seek forgiveness… and not any old church but the colossal Cologne Cathedral.

Much has changed in Germany since those heady late-teen days and there’s snow on the beardie now.

Koln card

Aspiring: Cologne Cathedral and Hohenzollern Bridge at sunset/nighttime

But the Rhine still flows gently along the same route and God is in his world in Koln.

Where you can see his house in even more glory now with a lift up the outside of the building and peer inside at our fellow worshippers at prayer.

All of which awaits you with Cassidy Travel and their Festive Markets Rhine River Cruise.

Cassidy are offering a four-night all-inclusive Arosa Aqua for December 2 or 6, from €9,199pps.

With an upgrade to a French Balcony Cabin for €150pp extra.

Cassidy will fly you out from Dublin to Dusseldorf with 10kg check in luggage allowance.

Booze cruise

As well as the four nights on board, you’ll have gourmet buffets with live cooking and all-inclusive restaurants.

There’s a heated outdoor whirlpool, spa including sanarium and gym.

And on-board entertainment each evening.

You’ll start in Cologne and take in Rudesheim, Mainz, Frankfurt, Koblenz and back in cathedral city.

And just as back in the day when we were the busboys to the floaty Rhine cruisers, these Cassidy cruisers get to enjoy all the beverages you like.

Countries, Culture, Deals, Europe

Oh Deo Cologne

7th July 20237th July 2023 funtime65

It is the gift that keeps on giving… well three gifts actually, and the reason we all exclaim Oh Deo Cologne.

Or maybe that’s just us.

The pride of German tourism (no it’s not the Berlin Wall) Cologne Cathedral is built on the Reliquary of the Three Kings.

The Magi’s bones have been housed there since 1164.

When they were donated by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa to the Archbishop of Cologne, Rainals of Dassel.

Who had come by them centuries down the road from the Emperor Constantin in his city Constantinople, today’s Istanbul.

Richer than gold

It would prove to be the perfect Christmas gift although oul’ Rainals might have preferred gold, frankincense and myrrh.

That said richer than gold is the love of the Lord’s reliquaries and those of his friends.

As they brought swathes of tourists and coin to Cologne, or Koln as the Germans call it… 20,000 a day.

Everything in Cologne revolves around the cathedral, the highest twin-spired church in the world at 515ft.

With it featuring on the football club’s badge too, guarded by Hennes the Goat, just one quirk of this German football heartland.

And why are we focusing on Cologne and its cathedral and Christmas markets today, as if we need a reason?

Other than that for Daddy’s Little Girl every day would be Christmas Day.

Department store

It’s that our friends at Travel Department are dangling special three-night Christmas Market getaways to Cologne for us.

You’ll be departing Dublin on November 29 from €519pp, staying at the Essential by Dorint Koln-Junkersdorf.

In with the fittings

Answer to der prayers: Cologne Cathedral

And the best thing of all you can get in with the fittings at Cologne Cathedral.

By taking a lift up to the top of the cathedral.

For the best views of the reliquary below amidst all the grandeur of the church.

And cock your head around to see the best views of the city and the Rhine.

It’s enough to make you exclaim… Oh Deo Cologne.

Countries, Europe, Pilgrimage

Oh de Koln

18th April 202318th April 2023 funtime65

It’s been 37 years in the making though that’s 595 less than the actual cathedral but Oh de Koln!

Way back then it was a mere pitstop on our way to the Munich Oktoberfest.

And a combination of too little time and too much booze meant we were in and out of the Gothic wonder.

Thirty-seven years is, of course, too long to pass before worshipping again at Koln (or Cologne) cathedral.

But with more time on our hands and without the distraction of a party of boozers we got to take in the full awe of the church.

And that meant getting in behind the church.

Not sure if there was a lift up then to the roof.

Our thirtysomething guide was naturally too young to have experienced it himself.

Closer to God

But it’s true what they say about the higher you go the closer to God you feel.

And for a time in the 19th century Koln Cathedral, at 157m tall, was the tallest building in the world.

Before Washington Monument was put up and Eiffel Tower rose above Paris.

And as striking as both those edifices are you do not get up so close to the Gothic intricacies of the Koln delicacies.

Although being this close to the gargoyles might make you feel like your mother-in-law is keeping an eye on you.

Mind you maybe that was the intention.

Down by the river

The panoramic views of course from the roof are sensational.

And there was a pang of jealousy looking down on the tourists enjoying their boat cruise along the Rhine.

Although, of course, they would have been looking up at us thinking the same.

The sheer scale of Koln Cathedral of course is impossible to capture on one viewing.

And that’s no doubt what they had in mind to get you through the door for the hundreds of services a year.

Germany’s magnet

And so we can see from its grandeur why it’s the most popular site in Germany with 20,000 visitors a year.

But why here?

Well, the bones of the Three Wise Men are said to reside there in a golden reliquary.

Get some cop-on yourself join the flock, it’s free to enter the church, onvs.

And a behind the scenes through the riggings tour.

And a lift and a spiral staircase up to that spectacular view is reasonably pitched.

Where like us I bet you exclaim Oh de Koln.

It certainly won’t be another 37 years before I’m back.

Particularly as I’m now a fixture and fitting at the German Travel Mart and am one of Lufthansa’s frequent flyers.