Beginning of the EU River cruise, 1st stop Cologne Germany

Comet Hunter

Supporting Member
So after leaving Maastricht, we boarded the the river boat which left Amsterdam and headed toward Vienna with the 1st stop the next morning in Cologne Germany

So this is our home for the next 2 weeks. the ship is called Aria and is about 36 feet wide and 200-some feet long. 150 passengers + Staff


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Excuse the mess, but this was our cabin. Simple but comfortable. 2 single beds folded down at night.

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Setting sail, started out on the Rhian river, then transferred to the Main then finally the Danube. What surprised me the most, was how narrow the rivers were! Some spots 2 ships could barely pass each other

P.S. Traveling south, we were going up hill and had to go through 60 some locks. Lots of commercial traffic with barges and such

P.S.S. the boat was around 36ft wide the the locks were only 37 to 38 feet with leaving some with only 6 inches clearance per side.


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While leaving Holland, we saw several operating windmills

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Poor picture but captured our 1st morning on the water heading toward Cologne


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1st breakfast view

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Just some random shots of Cologne

I didn't take many pictures in Cologne as I have been there before. Still a magical place.


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Just some random shots of Cologne, a magical place as is most of Germany


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I need to learn how to erase unwanted people from images.

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Last few shots are of the majestic St Peters Cathedral . As you can tell the church was so huge I had troubles using my 17 to 50 lens to capture it all.

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Construction of Cologne Cathedral began in 1248 but was halted in the years around 1560, unfinished. Attempts to complete the construction began around 1814 but the project was not properly funded until the 1840s. The edifice was completed to its original medieval plan in 1880.
The towers for its two huge spires give the cathedral the largest façade of any church in the world.

We learned the Cathedral survived the bombing of ww2 mainly due to the allies used the large church's as landmarks to aid in navigation..
I saw a picture of the town surrounding the cathedral which was totally destroyed leaving the church mostly untouched.

FYI, on our 1st visit here, we walked "533" steps to the top of the bell tower. That was a long, up hill hike but the view was magnificent.

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Closer detail of the Cathedral entrance

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Lastly a wonderful fountain on the side of the Cathedral I had to heavily crop tom remove lots of people

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JimFox

Moderator
Staff member
Now that's one town I could never visit. I am highly allergic to perfume. So a place called Cologne would make me so nervous to be in. :)

But I am glad you went and could share these images. It's amazing how long it's taken to build that cathedral. That's a little mind blowing.

How long were you one the cruise ship? That would be a fun way to travel.
 

Comet Hunter

Supporting Member
Now that's one town I could never visit. I am highly allergic to perfume. So a place called Cologne would make me so nervous to be in. :)

But I am glad you went and could share these images. It's amazing how long it's taken to build that cathedral. That's a little mind blowing.

How long were you one the cruise ship? That would be a fun way to travel.
2 full weeks, i still have lots to share as i process and sort my travelogue Pictues.
I hate to/or dont want to take over this forum though With just my trip.
 
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