Köln

I think today was the shortest cycling day I've ever done on tour- about 10km. I left the site after a slow pack up and cycled into the city. I'd found a good deal on a hotel and as it's a holiday, I decided to stay here for a couple of nights. 

I arrived way before check in but I had a plan. 

Step 1: cycle into the city

Step 2: visit a yarn shop

Step 3: find a good coffee shop

The plan went flawlessly. I enjoyed the short ride and obviously, found the yarn shop. It was very busy with lots of enthusiastic couples debating wool choices which I enjoyed seeing. I felt like I had to buy one skein but, with the temptation of Stephen and Penelope (a famous Amsterdam shop) coming up I managed to keep it to just that one. 

I'd gambled that wool shops are often near good cafes and my hunch was correct. The coffee was excellent. With that I wandered through the districts to my hotel which is situated just behind the cathedral. 

Mildly confused by the piper, as were the people in the cathedral ticket office. After they asked where I was from the asked me if 'that music is from your country'. Not the best piping I've ever heard, the Skye Boar Song had a few extra flourishes. 

I checked in, insisted on taking my bike to the room when there was no bike storage, fought with the teeny tiny lift and made several journeys to the fourth floor, and settled in. I didn't linger though.

Next stop was the famed Cathedral. It's famed for a reason, it's magnificent. I looked around in awe, it wasn't too busy because it's so big and so full of beautiful things that crowds don't form - everyone is looking somewhere different. 

After that I decided to get the feel of the city by taking a tour bus. My first feeling was that rush hour was a silly time to do such a thing but after 10 minutes in a tunnel under the cathedral it proved worth it. I found out about all the areas, the old town, rivalries and carnivals and even a cable car (cool as that would be - heights, nope).

That seemed to be enough for one day so I returned to the hotel to plan tomorrow.