15/09/25 To Germany By Train.

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The weather was miserable in the morning.  I got soaked walking up to the bakery to get breakfast. Serves me right, too.  I just couldn't be bothered to put on the perfectly good raincoat and umbrella that I had  back at the hotel.  

It was a good day to have some train time so we did just that and caught the train to Koblenz, but not before the morning ritual of pillow-packing and drinking twenty tiny cups of tea.

We left Luxembourg and the rainy weather behind us,  rolling over the river to Germany where, alas, public transport was no longer free. Right on cue a conductor appeared in our cabin and walked past as we scrambled to get out our tickets. We never saw her again and entered Germany unchecked so it was lucky for Germany that we were law abiding people.

Koblenz Station sported an impressive ceiling and stained glass window.

Koblenz was just a whistle stop to change trains before following the Moselle and then the Rhine rivers toward Cologne. Little villages scooted past complete with hilltop castles, and vineyards climbed impossibly up the steep hillsides behind them.



The Cologne Youth hostel was within sight of the train station. Now I know I'm not a youth, but Youth hostels have relaxed the rules a bit these days and we had a double room at the hostel even though, on my Eurail Pass at least, I'm officially a senior. 

The Youth Hostel had washing machines and dryers with which Google Translate and I fought for longer than I like to admit before conceding defeat and asking for help. The hallways were full of chattering teenagers on school trips, bursting with excitement and energy. They all had broken volume switches but no matter, I had ear plugs just waiting to be used.

Roger went out to forage for sustenance while I babysat the finally working washing machine. He rang me in great excitement. "There's a dollar store here and it's got everything in it! Even decent sized mugs! Want me to get you a mug?"

Oh! The temptation! But I said no. A suitable mug was not something that could be purchased lightly or by proxy. It demanded careful consideration, weighing of its efficacy for both tea and coffee, and preferably a trustworthy watertight lid to allow pre-mixing of heated drinks for later consumption when out. It wasn't a decision to be made when tired or under pressure and therefore tomorrow would be the most auspicious day for buying a decent cup. And seeing something of Cologne of course. I've got to get my priorities right after all.

Cologne Youth Hostel private room: not too shabby at all and did I mention breakfast is included?

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