Our First Visitor

Corey arrived as our first overnight visitor! She came to Cologne in the coldest week we have had all winter, but we still managed to get outside and walk around the city. It was fun to show her all we had talked about when we were home.

We needed to buy a wide angle lens just to get this photo!

On her first day we braved a walk down the river to the Dom. It was warmer inside the cathedral even though there is no heat! A must for visitors is lunch across the street at Cafe Reichard. I will always remember sitting there in the first weeks of our move - you are facing the front of the Dom which is incredibly massive, sipping a glass of wine (outside when it is warmer), and feeling you are in a dream. She didn't get quite that effect in freezing weather eating inside, but it is still a cool place to have a bite.

One of my favorite days was the day Shane Morris joined us (from Frankfort). Another cold one - we had lunch at the chocolate factory which has delicious desserts. Bob joined us for dessert too. We each chose something different and mine ended up being the winner.

We did brave the cold walk home and stayed warm in the apartment until evening. Marita (our relocation specialist) joined us for dinner out. I was so glad Shane and Corey were here to meet her. They said she reminded them of Mary Poppins. Never thought of her that way, but she did come in like a whirlwind with a huge fabric bag full of gifts and laughing and talking a mile a minute. We tried a new restaurant not far from the apartment and it was wonderful! A definite place to go back to for a special dinner out. It was lovely and it broke my record of getting bum meals out. I was sort of on a roll with ordering and not getting what was expected.

We rented a car for some of the time Corey was here which was a pleasure. It is the first we have done that in the four months since we arrived. We got to straighten out some of our buying mistakes - delivered the mattresses that didn't fit our beds to friends, returned chairs to IKEA that were the wrong height, and did a grocery order that didn't require me (and Bob) to carry whatever we could home. What a treat!!!

Cochem Castle

Corey got a chance to drive out into the countryside as well (and keep warm inside a car). We went down south to the town of Cochem which is on the Mosel River. Quaint little town with a castle perched above the village. The castle was closed because of time of year, but with a light snow on the ground we wandered the streets. The Mosel was frozen in spots, but that didn't stop a huge barge from barreling down the river. As we drove she could see all the vineyards up the hills from the river valley. We definitely need to wander back when they vines are full of fruit. I can just picture how beautiful it will be.

 We spent another day in the city of Bonn where many of the Americans from FedEx are living. It's just a 20 minute train ride south of Cologne. Being a Sunday and zero degrees out, there were not many people out. We went to Beethoven's House Museum which was very interesting. He lived in Bonn for the first 22 years of his life, so the town loves him! We also went to a German history museum which was excellent. The unique thing about the museum is it follows German history from the year 1945. Very interesting how they began with the end of the war and what the people had to face with what had happened in their country. Tastefully done - harsh realities of the war were apparent and disturbing.

Town Square with Town Hall in the background

Outside the entrance to the Beethoven Museum

We will miss you Corey!!! It was so nice to have company! Hope you were as comfortable as we were to have you.