Barge Trip, to Koln

Well, we Did see Amsterdam, walked around after the library/internet trip, and quite a time of it. Amsterdam, in the old section, is like Las Vegas on Steroids. Coffee houses with cannibis, ladies of the night in their glass covered cubicles right on the street, intersposed with other shops as well. Very interesting...after that we came back to the ship, ate a very nice dinner, and then sacked out. The next morning, which was yesterday the 30th, we did the tour. Of course we did the Rjicksmuseum, which was excellent with a very knowledgeable and animated tour guide, and greatly enjoyed learning more about Rembrandt, Vermeer, and others with the Dutch masters. Those paintings are beautiful and 600 years old or so. Just didn't have enought time there! We were hustled out to join up with a canal tour. After another hour, we bussed back to the barge, then by 1 or so headed upstream.
We meet lots of river traffic, going and coming, some missing us by about 3 feet or so! I love seeing the German flags flying and even the bridges are very interesting and colorful
The meals are excellent thus far, and we docked at Cologne at about 1 today, the first of October.
I love Germany. We left the boat ahead of the others, started walking with a good map, and headed for the Cathedral @ Koln. Allegedly the relics of the Magi are stored here, and the cathedral is indeed wonderful. We then just walked down one of the main shopping streets, window shopped around, and stopped into a local pub for a beer or two. Delicious!
In contrast to Amsterdam, where one either heard Dutch or English, here there is all German. Thanks to the Rosetta Stone German review course I'm doing rather well actually, and am getting by just fine. We stopped in a store that specializes in hand made wooden Christmas items and found some little candles for our pyramid as well. Of course people know I'm not German but they tolerate my German well so far and have not foisted English off on me. Susan found a hardware store, her specialty, and enjoyed the handmade tools and craftsmanship. I love it, getting back off the main steets, the cobblestones, the church bells ringing on the hour, the cleanliness, the majesty of the spires of the cathedral, all of it. Gives one much food for thought. This cathedral was first built in the late 800's, finally done in the late 1400's. The bones/relics of the Magi brought here from Milan in 1270 A.D. or so...
It is so much fun to be back in Germany. We are meeting a lot of interesting people from all over (mostly Canada..) and are enjoying the trip. Jet lag is improving but still messing me up. Still, found time to buy some chocolate at the chocolate factory next door!
Hope all is well in Arizone, etc. We sail tonight about 11:30 for Koblenz I think, then down the Moselle!
Love Dad/UR