Kölnisch Wasser - day one
Smooth train ride to Cologne, though we arrived 20 minutes late because of a signal problem between Duisburg and Düsseldorf.
After I got out in Deutz I asked a DB lady how to get a day ticket or even a three-day ticket for public transportation. She sent me to the DB ReiseZentrum office, where I had to wait in line, but was told that even though my ticket said Deutz I could just travel on to the Hauptbahnhof (the main station) and get a three-day ticket there: much cheaper than the single day tickets they sold there. Another train ride and another (much longer) line at another DB ReiseZentrum later I arrived at the KölnTourismus bureau where indeed I got a three-day WelcomeCard for €19, which also gives extra discounts on a number of things (while a single day ticket is €7.50, with no discounts): good deal.
The hotel turned out easy to find and located very conveniently quite near the Neumarkt which is very central and has a large number of tram and subway lines as well as busses, but away from the noise in a quiet side street. My room was free already so I could check in and leave some of my stuff there. Just a pity I could not get the free Wifi working with either my netbook or my phone.
Time to get started. The lady at the reception pointed me to a cafe nearby (Woyton) that has a free hotspot - and I needed lunch anyway. This worked, and I could post a few dents. Then on to my first target for today: the Zoo. That was a super tip by Vladimir: it was not only fun, there was also a lot of water so I walked around for hours an took loads of pictures. After that I wanted to cross the Rhine by means of the "Seilbahn" (cable cars) which starts right opposite the main Zoo entrance, as I expected it would afford beautiful views of the river. Alas, due to the stormy weather the service was stopped. (Quite likely it's going to be the same tomorrow.) I ended up walking around a lot more (some of it in the wrong direction: it seems my sense of direction is shot through lack of sleep), and then having a look at the Rhine - maybe I'll go back there tomorrow.
All in all, a great day, and a good start of my little project. It helped that the weather was unexpectedly nice, of course: tomorrow we'll have rain.
And by now, Wifi in my hotel room has also started working again! So I'll post a few photos, and then go out for dinner - and crash after that.
...more: Wifi worked, mailing didn't because the IP address here was in a black list. Trying now (4 September) from cafe Woyton...
