Saturday, September 27th 2008 (Rob)
Touring Köln:

Today we decided to take a tour of the city by bus. We started off with a delicious buffet at the hotel. They had everything that you could ever want for breakfast. Well almost everything. I don’t think they had steak. We met up with our friends the Pitman’s at breakfast.

After breakfast we headed up the road to the tourism information building. My dad found a double decker bus to go on the tour of the city. We passed so many different and interesting buildings dating back to medieval times. We stopped at a few places on the tour.

We took a tour of the Lindt Chocolate Museum…very tasty. After the museum we hopped back on the bus to go to the cable car that crosses the Rhein, the big river running through Köln. Great view from up there. We had lunch at a nice German Cafe, delicious brews, before heading into the Botanical garden next to the zoo. I was pushing my mom around in her wheelchair most of the time. I had to make it exciting for her so there were times we would almost hit a tree or go off the beaten path. She would let me know when it was too much by screaming Robby!!! Like I was in trouble…or else…empty threats, hopefully.

Once back at the bus stop we met up with the Pitman’s again and Marlea and Jane as well. Once back at the beginning of the tour we were at the famous Köln cathedral. My parent’s and I went inside and my dad and I took the climb up to the top of the tower, such an amazing structure. It was one of the only buildings left standing after the bombings in WWII. Over 70% of the city was leveled. We were also lucky enough to see the beginning of a mass with some very important looking bishops and priests. After the Cathedral we headed back to the Hotel for a little break then to dinner at the hotel restaurant. Dinner took quite a long time for no apparent reason. I ran to the store to grab my mom some eye drops. Not sure what I will do with the rest of this evening. I am exhausted from this first day of Köln.