Quick weekend Getaways: Pitstop @ Köln

Last week we went for a quick visit to Köln in Germany. We hired a car at Schipol airport in Amsterdam and drove down, checked into a hotel and started our adventures. First up, the Cathedral, a mamoth gothic building which will have you thinking of Ann Radcliffe and company. Or Harry Potter at least. The building suffered multiple aerial bombings during the Second World War but survived to tell the tale of this bloody period.

Next up, we hit the streets. I went a bit bonkers when I saw a Kiko store. I had seen GetGawjus rave about the Kiko blushes so I picked one, mine is in Quirky Pink. Two eyeshadows followed in no. 123 and 456. We then went in search for the oldest cologne shop in Köln, No.4711.



Köln is actually famous for being the city where, you guessed it, cologne was first bottled and sold in the early eighteen century. Years later the eau de Cologne was christened as No.4711 and is still sold from a store bearing the same name. The interiors are a tourist delight: a hot pink and blue confection with cologne flowing out of a brass tap. Sheer decadence.

As the whole of Germany remains closed on Sundays, we had to cram our street shopping in a few hours which was good for my wallet. Shopping done, we headed out for a night of eating and drinking and landed up at this place.

This restaurant specializes in Haxe (Pork knuckles, don't get put off by the name, this is seriously awesome stuff) and German beer. As Pork fanatics, we went the whole hog. I had to open my pant buttons afterwards. Phew.

Some Rhine gazing followed the heavy dinner and then we sat down for some Weissbeer at a riverside café.

As nightfell, I started feeling cold and called the beer fest to an end. And the three travellers trudged back to the hotel.