Melharris: Thursday, Friday, Saturday!

Well, it's harder to stop and blog about what we've done, but I'm so glad that I am, as when I get back home, it will be hard to remember it all! Thursday... well, that was Bowling night, and dinner with the team. I did post pics, but didn't talk about it. We met the Kautex team at a Restaurant, which seemed to be out in the woods, and felt like a lodge kind of... It was a nice place, chilly night, and they had a roaring fire, and our table was right next to it. My seat was RIGHT there! LOVED that fire! We wanted something a little lighter, as German food all seems pretty heavy, and sauced. NO lighter fare, grilled, salads, steamed veggies here... wow, I don't know how they eat all this fried food and saucy things all the time. We both had fish. Red snapper, and Trout. The sides ... we kind of ate half. The wines and beer are very good, and reminder ...the beer is COLD, ya'll. NOT warm. That's England!

After dinner we went downstairs to the Kegelball room, and played Kegelball. Bowling... or like it. The balls are smaller, no holes in them, lanes are funky, and rules are varied. There were about 18 of us in the group, so we all played, throwing one, two or 3 balls, based on the rules they changed up each game. I did OK. Mike, well, he beat everyone 2 out of 3 games... he just has a knack for hand/eye coordination games. They think he must bowl weekly. NOT.. maybe once a year! That was a fun evening!

Friday, Mike finished work early afternoon, and we headed out for a few excursions. We found a recommended shoe outlet. I've still been on a quest for a pair of boots, but no such luck as of yet. Then we found our way to Bad Goedsberg, to the Haribo Shop. OH MY GOODNESS... WHAT a candy store! We picked up a few goodies for our peeps! Please line up single file when we return! ;) Made it back to Bonn area about 4:20. This is 20 minutes AFTER the banks closed... to exchange more currency. #fail

We head back to the hotel to regroup for a while, and decide to get something lighter for dinner... something normal. Well, ya'll know that is SUSHI for us! I did a little researching around, found a sushi place that was recommended... so the "stars" said... but couldn't read the German... We decided to walk, as it was near the market center. We were there in under 5 minutes! Wow. Everything was SO close! The place was busy, so we sat at the sushi bar. We ordered, and observed people a while, and realized, they may not take credit cards, which MOST places in Germany do not. Well, they don't. The server pointed out an ATM nearby, so Mike ran over while we waited on the main course, and got some Euros. #thatsgonnacostus Whew! All was well. We now inquire before ordering! The sushi was wonderful! Afterward, we walked around the market center, and I showed Mike all of the places I'd been frequenting all week long. We stopped by the larger Starbucks for coffee, tea and a brownie.... aaaahhhhh. It was a great evening, walking around, people shopping, and out for dinner, little pubs and bistros tucked in everywhere. The streets are so very safe feeling, and we've never feared being out and about. You don't see police around, and never feel unsafe. I'd been fearful, as they warn about pickpocketing, but I saw more of that in Italy 10 yrs ago!

Saturday morning, pack up and head to Koln, or Cologne, as American's call it. It was NOT very far, but we wanted to spend a couple of days here, and see more sights. We walked up to the city center area, saw the MASSIVE Dom Cathedral. WOW. We'll be going back again tomorrow, and have bought our tickets for the City Tour bus, that will take us to 16 stops around the city, and we can hop on and off all we want for 2 days! Tomorrow will be a full day. We took our Rick Steves Europe guide book along, and found a recommended place to eat. We walked into a dark, old, pub, loud with jazz style music, found a table, asked for an English menu, and ordered something ham. OH MY. Mike's plate was the best, roasted ham on the bone, with saurkraut and spicy mustard. I thought there was no way he'd eat it all, but with my help (begging) he finished it all. It was awesome. I might have to try making that at home! GREAT recommendation Rick Steves! Worth the price of the guidebook!

We then walked around the square in the mass of people, looking in a few more stores, while working our way back to our hotel. It's south along the Rhine, a 20 minute walk. Of course, we're a few blocks away from the Chocolate Museum.... Yippeeeee! We stopped there, in their cafe, which was GREAT! Had Cappuccino, Jasmine Tea and Chocolate Duo Gateau. YUUUUUuummmmmm. We ate the diet version, and left the crust! ;) HEAVENLY! I WON'T be making that, as I would EAT it all!

Back in the hotel now... we're tired! Walking around for 5-6 hours every day will do that! So, we've planned out our route for tomorrow, downloaded pictures for you all, and finished this blog! Mike is mastering his Sudoku, and we're chillaxin' with Wine and Jazz!

We hope you all are thawing back in Snowklahoma and Texas!
Auf wiedersehen!