Monday 30 Jan 12

Another full day, but this time in Cologne.  Standard holiday routine is being applied to have a little sleep in followed by German style breakfast of fresh rolls, cheese, meat and coffee (this is not helping my waistline but I´m not fighting it either) and today travel on the train to Cologne.  There´s a lot to be said about a good rail system and the German system is outstanding, clean and fast. Opposite the central railway station is the DOM or cathedral which is build on top of an earlier Roman temple.  The first church was commenced in 320 AD.  The current cathedral can hold 40,000 people.

Carnival stall at the railway station

 

Cologne Cathedral



Wal attending church



After church, there was the obligatory souvenir shopping and then a very special ceremony. 

Andreas and Brigitte were married on 4 Nov 11  They had been school friends many years before and met again on 4 Nov 06.  To commemorate their union they placed a lock (with many thousands of others) on the bridge crossing the Rhine river and then threw the keys into the river.  These dear friends had put off doing this until I was I Germany with them. The placing of locks has become a recent tradition in the region. After our little ceremony a bottle of champagne was opened on the bridge and consummed whilst light snow flakes drifted down.

All this cold weather and walking builds up a big thirst and hunger so there was no choice but to find an old bar where the local beer was served, and there are at least 12 different types to try,

as well as a nice pork knuckle with saurkraut and of course good company.

Wal sharing his pork knuckle with Andreas

After lunch there was some more shopping for books on the German Pilgrims Way as well as a visit to Globetrotter a massive 4 floor outdoor and camping store.  This place is so good that they have a pool where you can float a canoe or kayak if you want to try it out in the water and also spray booths where you can select weather conditions to check the quality of your equipment before you purchase.  I only bought a poncho and pair of fingerless bike gloves for when I use the walking sticks.

To ensure a perfect day Andreas and Brigitte had arranged a visit to the Bier Esel (Beer Donkey) bar and restaurant where we were able to disgrace ourselves by eating at least between 150 and 200 mussels.  My grief did we feel satisfied afterwards on the train home.

Mussels Galore

It´s been along day but now we´re going home to bed.

Sunday 29 Jan 12

Had a great sleep until 08:30 followed by a fabulous breakfast before leaving on the 100km trip to to the old Roman town of Xanten on the Rhine near the Dutch border.The Roman foundations were discovered during building works and the entire section of land is now closed to further development as the Roman history is revealed.  Part of the archeological activity is to rebuild in the original style and materials for research and preservation.  Included is a substantial covered bathhouse and large museum which if we had the time could have filled in most of the day.  One comment about the day is that it was bloody bitter, we think a couple of degrees below zero and I recon that the Antarctic may be warmer!!

Mid afternoon we walked over to the Kriemhildmuhle, a 14th century working windmill.  What is interesting is that the Dutch influence in this area is very strong and their names appear everywhere in the town. 



Next on the list was the old St Victor cathedral which can trace it´s roots back to the 4th century and is build on the foundations of an old Roman tomb claimbed to be that of St Victor.  The present cathedral was commenced early in the 12th century.

No day would be complete without a pub meal in the 15th century Gotisches Haus, a saurbraten with red cabbage and hot gluhwein.

The trip home to Leverkusen was great, the car was warm and I had a good sleep. This evening we had light snow.



Saturday 28 Jan 12

Today it´s time to leave Amsterdam after a great week with Titia, Emma and Marie-Marte. Last night Titia took me to see the Opera ´The Magic Flute´ (Die Zauberflote by Mozart) performed by the Netherlands Marionetten Theater. The production was a brilliant puppet show on stage and unlike anything that I have ever seen before. The production has toured world wide from Naples to Moscow.  My other claim to fame is that I helped the Dutch economie by eating kilos of raw herrings and onions during my stay.  Only a Dutchman can appreciate these.

Titia, Andreas and Brigitte in Amsterdam

With the GPS installed Andreas cleared the city of Amsterdam quickly and soon we were on the 250km trip on the autobahn to Leverkusen near Cologne.  Andreas and Brigitte have been so kind as to give me their bedroom upstairs as their home only has a master bedroom, however it is a very liveable and beautiful home.



A week in Amsterdam

Friday 20 Jan 12 took the train from Canterbury to London via Faversham and Chatham because the normal service wasn't running.  The trip took about 2 hours but the weather was poor so I was happy to relax. On the way chatted to a couple of Americans who come to Canterbury regularly. Conveniently the train took me to Waterloo station opposite the Union Jack Club so I only had to walk 100meters to the front door.  After dropping my bags off I walked into London for lunch at the Trafalgar pub but returned soon after to accommodation because of rain.

Saturday 21 Jan 12 departed by 08:00 by taxi to St Pancras International for the fast train to Brussels and then onto Amsterdam where friend Titia Royackers was waiting on the station. The train trip is quite an experience and puts train travel in Australia to shame.

Friend Titia and daughter Emma

Sunday 22 Jan to Friday 27 Jan 12. What a week and it went so fast!  Firstly on Sunday I had a lovely lunch with Bas and Tinike de Vet.  The last time that we met was on the flight from Madrid to Singapore after my 2008 Camino, and since we have stayed in contact by email. Over the following days there was plenty of opportunity to explore the antique and antiquarian book shops or visit the many places of interest.  Titia and I went to the Anne Frank house on Monday but I found the experience dissapointing because the front of the building is modern and new and the rooms are empty of furniture and belongings so you don`t really get a connection with the people who lived there.  On Thursday, the only day that it rained, I had lunch with my aunt Louise and cousins Rob and Jan-Willem. After lunch there was a visit to the Dutch palace which may not be as fancy as Buckingham palace but all the same very nice and historical and the place that Napoleon stayed when in Holland.  The rooms retain the original furniture and continue to be used for heads of state visits.

Palace Interior

Other visits included the Amsterdam Maritime Museum which includes the sailing ship Amsterdam a 1700 Dutch East India company replica and Amsterdam Historical Museum where they have such interesting bits as 11th century shoes, found in the mud, on display.  The quantity of fine art by the great masters is overwhelming.



Canterbury

Monday 16 Jan went to Canterbury by myself for sightseeing. First the Roman museum which is underground and displays sections of Roman buildings from 200AD.
Next to Chaucer Bookshop where I found a book written in the time of Elizabeth 1. After a good pub lunch to Canterbury cathedral for a 2 hour guided tour. Finished the day with visit to the museum, Evensong at the cathedral with Malcolm and Lindy and nice home-cooked meal. Weather is turning very cold now.

Week 2 - Southern England

Wed 11 Jan - early start for 3 hour drive to Bath.

Village outside Bath where Malcolm and Lindy were married

On arrival drove around this beautiful Georgian  city before meeting with friends for lunch. Most of afternoon was viewing the Roman baths, so much history to see and so little time.

Quick look at shops but no time to buy anything, also visited church where Malcolm & Lindy were married.

Lovely view of the river in Bath

Friday 13 Jan - Departed Buckland Common for Bridge in Kent. Weather still clear but getting colder. Stopped in the historical town of Rochester for lunch and to view the cathedral and ancient castle.



Rochester Castle

Cathedral dates back to about 600AD. After lunch continued on past Canterbury to Bridge which lies on the old Roman road from the coast to London. Our cottage "Primrose Cottage" dates from 1716 and is attached to house from 1468. Very relaxing.

My room at Primrose Cottage in Bridge

The village of Bridge

Sun 15 Jan 12 - Today we drove up to Broadstairs a place often visited by and the location of many of Charles Dickens's works. Although the sky was clear the wind came direct of the Arctic and was bitter. After lunch with friends, the route home took us through the village of Sandwich, one of the 5 Cinque Ports and as old as the UK. So old and beautiful! Stopped at Canterbury for dinner and walk around town.

Broadstairs. Large castle like house on the hill is Bleakhouse where Charles Dickens worked

Hopefully this post finds you all well!

- Wal

Arrived UK

Arrived in UK spot on time at 06:30 on Sat 7 Jan 12 after uneventful flight on brand new A380 aircraft. Heathrow was the busiest everyone claims that it had been seen in recent years with 4 or 5 aircraft in at once. Took hour and half to clear Homeland Security and then straight out to meet Malcolm and Lindy Rose and quick drive to Buckland Common near St Leonards where we are staying with Caroline and Derrick. 

Malcolm, Lindy, Derreck, Caroline and Wal

Weather for winter is unreal with temperatures of 8 to 10C and no rain.  On Saturday we went to a Christmas Tree burning in the local village of Morton, this tradition has been ongoing 25 years. Monday out to Wendover for a little antique shopping and the chocolaterie for coffee.

The chocolate shop in Wendover

In the afternoon we visited Bletchley Park the site of the WW2 code breakers. Regretably ran out of time to see everything.  Today, Tuesday, it is Windsor castle and tomorrow Bath.  Not losing any weight due to hectic social life.

Friends Irene, Lindy & Malcolm at Bletchley Park

Windsor Castle

Hi!

This is my first blog post!  As I write this I am preparing to leave for another adventure!  So for now, I'm just learning how to upload pictures - here's some from my trip on the Camino de Santiago in 2008.  More to follow!

Yep! That's me!