Germany July 2015

Germany July 2015

Mon 6^th

Taxi picked us up at 05.25 and took us to the Abbey car park where Owens coach picked us up. We drove to Warwick where we changed drivers. We got to Folkestone in time for the 3.20 ferry. From them on the journey went wrong lots of road works, accidents and congestion meant that we were very late getting to the hotel. They had kept dinner for us but it wasn't wonderful. Straight to bed.

Tue 7th

Today we had trip to Cologne, about an hour and a half away. Mike the driver did a great job of finding somewhere to drop us off in very difficult streets. We went on an open top bus tour which took two and a half hours and gave us an overview of the city, there were a lot of underground roads much of the cathedral area had been tunnelled under to clear traffic. It was sweltering on the bus. When we got off we walked down to the river and found a café where we sat and had a meal and watched the world go by.

Back to the hotel and after a very nice meal sat out side with a drink for a while.

Wed 8th

Today we walked down into Monchau, it was quite a bit cooler today and threatening to rain. A very interesting town built on a rocky hillside with many higgledy piggledy half timbered houses. We went in a café just as it started to rain. We then walked out the other side of the town and met the driver who told us about a visitor centre so we went there S it had started to rain again. This was a huge barn with many craft/gift stalls and a museum and glass blowing demonstration. After this we walked back into town and decided to get on the little train, we walked all the way to car park above our hotel where we thought it was and it wasn't so gave up.

After dinners there was a skittle night which we enjoyed.

Thurs 9th

Today we had a trip to Aachen less than an hour away. When we were dropped off we found the tourist info and booked on a bus tour. We went and looked round the cathedral, amazing, and round some of the old streets and some Roman remains. It started to rain really heavily so we tried to find a café. When we did we had a drink before making our way to the bus. The tour was very interesting again giving us an insight into the city’s spa history. Back to the hotel and packed before dinner. After dinner we sat in the lounge with a drink for a while and chatted.

Fri 10th

Early breakfast and away by 08.00. Very good journey to start and got to Calais for an earlier train. It all went wrong back in England where we sat on the M25 for hours and were very late, hot and sticky again. We had to meet the relief driver at Oxford not Warwick and he was not a very nice chap, nothing like Mike who was excellent.

Home by 10pm after run round Shrewsbury in taxi dropping others off. Rich & Bri went for takeaway which we enjoyed.

A very nice trip marred by the long, tiring journeys.