So today was the Big Day, when we were to visit the Christmas markets. I slept badly again (this wretched cold!), and in fact drowsed off to sleep again after the alarm went off. However, we had agreed not to leave until late morning, so that wasn't really a problem.
We had decided to do as we had done last time we were here, and drive up to the Park&Ride at Heinrich-Lübke-Ufer, the next stop up the line towards Cologne. But when we got there, it was full, and no space to be had. We pulled up to consider our options - the SW thought we should go to the big P&R the other side of Cologne, where we have been before, only it would have taken a good hour to drive to. I thought that perhaps, before we did that, we should investigate one in Rodenkirchen itself, but there was probably a good reason why the campsite didn't mention it. However, while we were pondering what to do, a tram came in, several people got off, and several spaces became free, including one that was absolutely perfect for the motor home, as it was far enough back, and beside a tree, the so it did not block any other vehicles.
Since we were last here, 10 years ago, when we had terrible trouble finding enough coins to buy tickets for public transport, they have now produced an app, which makes things quicker and easier, and we were each able to buy a 24-hour ticket with no problems.
I took a couple of cold relief tablets (I only have 8, so am rationing them), which were absolutely magic, and I was able to forget all about my cold until we got back! We caught the next tram into the city, which dropped us off at the Hauptbahnhof, just near the first of the markets.
We had a wonderful wander around, buying Bratwurst for lunch - this was a slight failure, as the stall we went to sold them in rolls, and later we saw another stall which sold them with potatoes! Ah well. Plus I put the wrong sauce on mine - it was based on barbecue sauce and really wasn't to my taste. So I wiped most of it off with my napkin, and then had nothing to wipe my hands with! For pudding, we bought a sort of fruit sundae - hot fruit puree underneath, topped with crumble topping and a scoop of ice cream. The Swan Whisperer's was apple, which I should have liked, but the ice cream that came with it was cinnamon, which I am not fond of. I like the smell, but not the taste. My fruit was plums, I think, and the ice-cream was mango sorbet, and it was delicious!
We took a wrong turn leaving the first market, and walked halfway down the high street before realising we needed to retrace our steps to get to the Alter Market, but we got there in the end, and enjoyed wandering though it, and then down to the Heumarkt, where we treated ourselves to the quasi-obligatory mulled wine (which was delicious) and the SW decided to keep the mugs as he thought they made good souvenirs. Then we walked down through the market, and caught first a bus and then a tram back to the P&R. Unfortunately, the tram left before we could get off, so we had to travel another stop, into Rodenkircher, and then wait 10 minutes for a tram back again! Ah well, no real harm done. Back at the campsite, a cup of tea was swiftly followed by a nap to recharge both me and my phone!
I think that on balance, we prefer Strasbourg, but maybe that's because it is easier to visit after dark - we don't know what the illuminations here are like. But Christmas Markets are pretty much the same all over the place. I think I want to come back to Cologne when it isn't Christmas - I know we do visit it fairly often, but I don't think we've visited the Heumarkt when the Christmas market isn't on, as they seem to have some lovely houses there. Photos on Facebook, as per usual.
But sadly, somewhere along the line I lost my knitted beret that I bought in Graf last trip. I did so love it. Oh well, I do have others, but not so nice.
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