The Grand Rail Trip of 2022 - PART 2
Updated: Jan 27, 2024
It was an epic adventure spanning four countries, two Theme Parks, one Grand Slam Tennis Tournament and over 1,000 miles of Train Track. This is the amazing story of what happened along the way!
Cologne Sightseeing
A gorgeous sunny morning greeted me on Day 2, where temperatures would reach 29 degrees and it would feel even hotter than that - perfect for exploring this city split by the Rhine!
I'd researched a good place for Breakfast just outside the centre via a couple of Tram stops, where I had a hearty twist on the Full English Cologne-style. This would keep me going for a mighty endurance test, more of which later.
I made my way to Cologne Cathedral, the showpiece sight of the day. This represented a huge symbol of resilience for the City when it was bombed during World War 2, as it was one of the few structures to remain intact. It has gradually been restored in the years since (as well as the iconic 3-arched Rail Bridge)
Having been prodominantly built between the 13th and 16th Centuries, it was interesting to see the contrast in its design from ones I had previously visited in Prague (9th Century) and Malta (16th Century), placed between those eras. No less spectacular, as the photos show.
After a lovely wander through the cool Cathedral (which was a welcome escape from the heat), it was time to grab some souvenirs and refreshment, which was definitely going to be needed for the next activity.
I had intended to wind my way along the banks of the Rhine at this point, but on heading this direction saw a sign for 'Ascent of the Tower', and thought this would provide an incredible panoramic view. That was the good news at the end of it. The bad news was that it was a mere 533 steps to the top! (It brought to mind a previous achievement of climbing the Duomo in Florence's 463 steps, which this would easy surpass).
Anyway, I went for it, and it was definitely worth it - you could see the Rhine meander off into the distance for miles and the sheer scale of the main Hohenzollern Bridge, approaching levelness with the spires and the largest church bell in the world! Obviously not great for anyone with vertigo, particularly the last section with a very exposed void by the then-metal staircase. You could sense the community spirit when people had finally made it, that we'd all shared a special experience.
Stunning vistas galore, and then once I'd come back down it was time for an alcoholic drink at a 125 year-old cafe nearby.
The rest of the day was much more leisurely, literally putting my feet up on the banks of the Rhine and taking in the imposing Cathedral from every conceivable angle, crossing the Bridge and relaxing on the pebbled banks as the sun drew in.
It had been a lovely day and it was time to decant back to the hotel, because for the next couple of days, there would be some high-octane rollercoasters to ride!
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