Koblenz

We have a reservation at Hotel Hamm which is close to both the train station and the boat dock to catch the Rhine and Mosel boat cruises.

We hope to visit the towns shown below while based in Koblenz. While actually exploring Koblenz, the following things are on my must do list:

• Explore the Altstadt looking for the four towers building and other beautiful sights.
• Cross the river and take the chair lift to Fort Ehrenbreitstein
• Walk along the Rheinanlagen
• Visit the Weindorf
• Have a meal or a snack in the square known as Am Plan and people watch
• Have a meal at Cafe Lorenz.
• Possibly rent a bike and bike to Boppard. 
• Have a visit with Manuela and Reza when they come to Koblenz to meet us.

In Düsseldorf we will be staying at the Sheraton at the airport. This is very convenient because not only is it a very short S-Bahn ride into the city, but the hotel is on the airport grounds near the train station. Graham flies out to England from here on the day that I take the train to Bremen so it makes it very convenient.

We will spend Saturday in Düsseldorf visiting a friend on our first day and then a week later I return to the same hotel before I follow Graham to England. My plane doesn't leave until after dinner, so I hope to visit the city again and see my friend a second time.

While there, I hope to see the following things:

• Explore the Altstadt
• Go to the top of the Rhein Tower to the viewing platform
• Stroll along the Rheinuferpromenade
• Explore the Königsallee
• Visit the famers market at Carlsplatz
• Visit Burgplatz to see the castle of the count of Berg
• Spend some time with Marita.

One of several towns we want to visit while staying in Koblenz. This town on the Moselle river is just a 15 minute train ride from Koblenz. It may be possible to bike here.

• Take the little train/bus orientation tour. It includes a coupon to get a free glass of wine in a commemerative glass you can keep. Cost is 4.70 each. Tours start at the old bridge from. 10.00 - 17.30 o´clock every 30 minutes. The tours takes approx. 25 minutes.
• Take the shuttlebus to Cochem castle and take a tour (in German with translation sheet). There is a restaurant at the castle with wonderful views of the town and river if we want to eat there.
• Take a chairlift up to Pinner Kreuz (255 m high) to great views. (single ticket is 4.30)
• At the top, walk 20 minutes to wildlife park from which we can walk down a wonderful path to the wine village Klotten, cross the river by the ferry boat of Klotten, walk along the river, pass the leisure centre of Cochem and arrive back in Cochem.
• Also available at the top is a Nordic Walking park we could do instead.
• From the town, cross the Moselle on the bridge to Cond and the Historic Mustard Mill (Historische Senfmühle). Free mustard samples daily at 11, 2,3 and 4 pm.

Things I want to see and do in Bremen. I will be here without Graham for 3 nights but my good friend Regina lives here and she will spend much time with me. Luckily I have selected and already booked a hotel right next to the train station. So my first hours travelling alone will not require me to navigate with taxis or trams.

Here are things that interest me, but I am will be in Regina's hands and trust her to show me a great time.

• Bremen's market square. Some say it is the most beautiful in the world. I think the town hall and the cathedral are on the square.
• Explore the Schnoor. This is the medieval part of town and many of the houses date back to the 1500s. Originally it was where the fishermen and traders lived. Now it is full of pubs, shops, cafes and restaurants. I love exploring cobbled, narrow alleys full of shops so I will love it here.
• Explore the Schlechte
• Visit Böttcherstraße at noon, 3pm or 6pm to hear and see the bells
• Visit Vegesak
• Visit the Überseemuseum (very near my hotel) and the The Focke Museum
• Taste Fish cakes with green sauce and Pumpernickel ice cream.
• Visit my friend Regina and her family.
• See the The Spitting Stone ( a cobblestone with a cross embedded in it) It is located west side of the cathedral. It marks the place where a famous murderer from Bremen was executed in 1831. She was the last person executed in Bremen. Supposably people from Bremem spit on this spot.
• Windmill on the Wall
• The Town Musicians Statue

Boppard is a place we plan to visit while staying in Koblenz. We will do a day trip here.

• Take the 20 minute ride on the chairlift ride to the "Vierseenblick", the view of the four lakes. In summer it runs 9.30 a.m. - 6.30 p.m. Costs 6,20 round trip or 4,20.
• Ride the mini-train (lasts 30 minutes) to get a tour of the town including the remains of Boppard's fortifying walls dating back to the Romans and the Middle Ages. Departs from Market Square, Rheinallee or Chairlift. Cost is 3,50.
• If there on a Wednesday, we can take a guided tour through Boppard in English at 3pm. The tour explains Boppard's history, Roman and medieval remains, narrow alleyways and halftimbered houses. Starting point: Tourist Office Boppard.
• If weather is bad, the town museum is free. It is in a part of the Elector's castle built in 14th century. One exhibit is onThonet Bentwood Furniture. Closed Mondays. Hours 10 a.m. - 12.30.
• Take the Hunsrück Mountain Railway that goes from Boppard to Buchholz. The route is reputed to be one of the most charming mountain railway trips in Germany. It goes over 2 viaducts and passes through five tunnels, and ascends more than 330 meters over the 8 kms to Buchholz. Can walk back to town on foothpaths No. 23, 25, 19 or 26. These walks take 1-2 hours. One-Way ride on train to Buchholz takes 15 minutes (train continues to Fleckertshöhe: 20 Min.
  Emmelshausen: 30 Min.). Fare (round trip) is 3,50 to Buchholz. Bikes are transported free. Time-table at the Tourist Office. Tickets at the Railway station.
• Tourist information is located at Market Square in the old town hall.
• Have tea or just shop in the Bopparder Teehäusje
  Untere Markt Straße 8 - 10.
  
  

Still looking for a place to stay here. So far I am considering Central Hotel am Dom or Four Points by Sheraton Central Koeln.

As for things I want to see

• The Dom, including touring and going up in the tower.
• The historic center.
• The Dionysus mosaic and the Roman sewers.
• The Chocolate Museum.
• The Fish Markt area.
• Roman Street in the Altstadt.
• The 4711 House and Glockenspiel- home of Eau de Cologne.

 Another daytrip location we plan to visit while staying in Koblenz.

• Tourist Information center located at the Rheinhalle/Geisenheimer Strasse. THey have lots of English materials and they speak English.
• The Drosselgasse is the heart of Rudesheim's old town. In summer there is a brass band and dancing from late morning’s ´till midnight on the "Drosselgasse" as well as lots of shops and restaurants. It is a famous street.
• Take the cable car up to the Niederwald Monument. There is a deer park here and a magnificent view of the Rhine valley and the village of Assmannshausen. Option to take a chairlift down to Assmannshausen and then a boat back to Rüdesheim or you can walk down through vineyards to Assmannshausen. The Niederwald Enchanted Cave is also at the top. The station is in the pedestrian precinct, Oberstrasse. Fares: adult return 6.50€, single 4.50€, combi-ticket “cable-car/chairlift” (to Assmannshausen), 6.50€. Timing is critical. Boat only goes at 3 times.
• Take a boat ride from Rüdesheim to St. Goar to see the Lorely and back. Takes 2 hours each way.

• Visit the Wednesday Markt on Cathedral square
• Visit the Prinzipalmarkt
• See St. Peter's Cathedral (largest in Westphalia) and see the astronomical clock
• Ride the waterbus on the Aasee

• Former royal palace in Siegen
• Moated palace in Hainchen
• Visit a visitor mine or mining museum
• Walking on the mountain behind Silvia's house

• Exploring the walled old town area
• See the windmill