This morning we cruise through the 2000 year old town of Koblenz, and we experience beautiful scenery as we make our way to Cologne. On arrival we have a tour around the city and the magnificent cathedral. An unbelievable sight but no sense of reverence inside. Claimed tomb of the Maggi. Back on board for lunch and we listen to the Brownlow count. Attend the disembarkation talk – very sad. Tonight is the captains farewell dinner and crew entertainment. Have to think about packing – very sad. Have some late afternoon drinks in the Johnstone's cabin and then off to pack. The crew entertainment performance was OK, but the highlight of the evening, maybe the whole trip, was the debut of "The Curtain"! Tomorrow we arrive in Amsterdam.
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Walked into Cologne and our tour guide was like one of The Big Bang series characters. There is a monument on the riverside that depicts the great flood of the river with photos and level markings. We saw a few quirky and interesting things, saw the Mardi Gras Centre and the funny folk song/Mardi gras statue, the archeological digs of the Jewish quarter and Roman digs. We arrived at the huge Cathedral where he gave us a talk, it was the largest cathedral in Europe at the time of its completion, built over an original church. When we went inside the view the original foundations and ruins, it did not seems a very holy place. Went and enjoyed a coffee and cake at Richards cafe in the shadow of the cathedral then strolled back towards the Pearl. We stopped at 4711 shop and were given a talk on the origins and how men and women would use it to cover the smell of their unwashed bodies. Bathing in those days was considered dangerous as lots of diseases were born in the water. Even Napoleon would have a huge bottle of it tucked into his boot. Strolled ba k through the shops and John bought some Berliners. Saw huge statues of a lion and hippopotamus at a decor store. Walked to the Lindt museum, but unfortunately it was closed. Back on board and congregated in Johnstone Cabin for drinks and Brownlow results. After the Captains farewell dinner we ventured upstairs for the Crew’s Show - some good, some not so good. Ross excelled as the “curtain” in Yvonne’s theatre piece and Norbert and friends wowed the ladies with the “I’m only wearing a frypan” dance. Lots of laughs and another guuuuuuuuud time was had by all.
Sad to think we have to start packing and will have to leave the Pearl.
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