The Grand Rail Trip of 2022 - PART 4
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 to Mainz via Koblenz: A Scenic Rail Journey
A quick visit to the Old Town on the morning of Day 5, and then it was time to say goodbye to Cologne and the varied cultural experience it had given me.
The route I was then taking was billed as one of the most scenic Rail Journeys in Europe, clinging to the Rhine and passing through picturesque villages with little churches, castles and coloured houses. As it reaches its crescendo at Koblenz, the panorama is awe-inspiring as the Train meanders to the river's path. The two-hour journey flew by in an extremely comfortable First Class seat, it was undoubtedly the best Train ride I've had and I didn't want it to end.
Arriving at non-touristy Mainz, the city influential in developing the Pfizer vaccine, just after Midday, I was greeted with a carnival atmosphere, with street games, entertainment and music! Unbeknownst to me beforehand, the city was celebrating its National State Day, Rhineland-Pfalz-Tag!
Everyone was in high spirits, and it was a great time to soak up the party atmosphere! I made my way to Old Town Square to admire the intricate architecture of the coloured Shops, Restaurants and Townhouses adjacent to the russet tones of Mainz Cathedral.
You can walk from one side of the city to the other in under an hour, and I was soon in my familiar location along the banks of the Rhine. What I saw next greatly intrigued me. In Mainz, it seems there is a real community integration between the Fire, Police and Ambulance services, as they were answering questions and having laughs with the public, and you could see some of the old vehicles on display! There's a mutual respect of their presence of the streets, which was very heartening and refreshing to see.
After a bit more breezy wandering down the Rhine, passing through a shaded garden, I ventured across a small footbridge to a Wine Bar jutting out slightly onto the Rhine. A perfect spot to relax with a glass of Riesling and watch the world go by, mainly comprising a raft of ships! There was even a deckchair to recline in - bliss!
After a while, it was time to collect my luggage from the very useful station locker and mosey to the hotel. As there was so much to see, this was much later than envisaged, but it didn't matter. Time to recharge at a very quirky hotel before going for a meal at the best restaurant in Mainz, opposite the station. I had a lovely steak with fries and vegetables - delicious!
Meanwhile, the party was getting into full swing in the centre, with an open-air concert with thousands of revellers dancing along and trying to understand Brit Pop. It was crazy times and so much fun, without having to fork out a single Euro!
I got myself a Wine in a souvenir cup and enjoyed the festivities, which ran for around a mile from Mainz Cathedral to the banks of the Rhine. There was still some time for romantic shots along the river, where locals congregated on the lawn, enjoying the night in a non-raucous way. Another perfect day from start to finish, Mainz had put a smile on my face with its carefree lifestyle - a real hidden gem of Germany!
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