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So today we have a day with nothing official to do except the Christmas Markets of Cologne. They have five markets. The larger Christmas markets are held in downtown Cologne. The booths near Cologne Cathedral are arranged around a huge Christmas tree, next to which is a stage for a diverse program of live music performances. At the "Heimat der Heinzel" on Heumarkt, visitors will be thrilled to find a spectacular skating rink. I was hoping to go to these two since one is close to the boat dock and the other one is close to the first one but for now, we had to get our breakfast. Rising early, we were at breakfast by 8:30 am. It was great and we noticed that it stayed open even after we left at 9:30. Maybe somebody said something.
A lot of people went to the Cologne town walk but we stayed on the ship, Mom cleaning and packing and me, working on blog and downloading pictures. It was a nice relaxing day. During our lunch we noticed someone new on board, speaking with the different department heads and surveying the ship. We ask and find that he is a Viking Corporate Exec. Mom wonders if he heard about her terrible breakfast yesterday.
After lunch we decided to walk to the markets. Mom wasn't excited about it and made faces but I pushed and she went. She always asks, "How much further is it? Are you sure it's this way?" Then I say, "No, I'm not sure but who cares. If I'm wrong, I'll change directions and try again." I find it best sometimes to walk ahead in search of markets. That way, if it's not there, I can return a lot faster and move in another direction by myself much quicker than the two of us traveling in the wrong direction. She'll wait for me at the bottom of the hill while I check it out. If it's up at the top, I'll signal her and she can walk up, otherwise, I'll come back down and try elsewhere.
The first market at the Haumarkt was great with a lot of food and huts with stuff for sale. It's not the same stuff we saw earlier. I'm glad we made most of our purchases along our train route since now we find the things along the river cruise are not the same. Gone are the smokers, nutcrackers and prune people. Now it's much more fabrics, woodcarvings and clothing. We walk around for a couple of hours checking out the skating rink and the different huts. I get my last Gluhwein mug at the final Christmas Market of our trip. I try to persuade Karen to investigate the next market at the church but she's done. Ok. We return to the boat, only a few blocks away.
We get cleaned up and head for dinner. It's great and Mom sits next to one of 15 travel agents on this boat ride. She lets her have a piece of her mind regarding the breakfast and everything else bothering her. The agent agrees with many of her complaints and adds a few of her own. They have a nice conversation. Some people head out on a two hour beer tavern tour but we return to the room. A piano and cello entertain three lonely travelers in the lounge and we watch via our stateroom TV.
After talking to the travel agent, Mom is starting to relax about her missed breakfast. She's stopped picking on everything she sees so maybe the heat will be off me for a while.
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