Kölsch culture
by Sjalen
The first time I visited Cologne, I didn't get Kölsch at all. This Cologne beer speciality was to weak and served in too small glasses for my more Bavarian liking :))) These days, my extended Cologne family have taught me how it is done and I have got used to the way it should be drunk and enjoy it even if it is not my great favourite. You cannot sip a Kölsch like other beer. Instead, down it rather fast and there is soon a new glass on your table! As they are small, you simply order a new one when you need it and there is even a special Kölsch tray for waiters to carry them in.
So, how do you behave? For a start, the waiters in the Kölsch brewery pubs are quite snotty but that's part of their image so don't worry. Instead, try to argue back at them, it's all permitted as long as it is done in a sort of sarcastic but joking way rather than downright bad mannered. As you cannot drink Kölsch forever because your stomach will start to feel like you have a swimming pool in it before your brain tells you that you're drunk, there is a way to stop more glasses being put in front of you. Simply put the beer mat on top of your glass (see second picture).
When you've stayed in Cologne for a while, you get your own Kölsch favourites and can distinguish between some. Sion is one of mine but Päffgen and Früh are also very nice although totally different! Gaffel seems to be the most touristy one and there are loads in between. The old rule says that a Kölsch has to be brewed within Cologne City to be named a Kölsch.
Lego paradise
by ptitetoile about Lego Store
The shop is wonderful... not only for the children!!!!
You will find there legos in all shapes and colors you will never find in other toys shops!
For example flashy green or pink squares..Or lego magnet or lego-erasers... You can also buy your legos like candies, chose the ones you want... per kilo!!!! With this store, playing with legos becomes an art! And a visit is always useful if you still have not bought the christmas presents for your nephew! Legos but also all the corresponding accessories and merchandising !
Hauptbahnhof
by kentishgirl
The main train station in Cologne is on the Dom side of the Rhine, the german name for this station is "Hauptbahnhof", there is another station in Cologne which is called Cologne Deutz - but I only passed through there.
The station is very easy to use, but if you speak absolutley no German you may find it a bit difficult...buying tickets is relativley easy - use the automated ticket machines and they have various language options.
There are plenty of shopping facilities at the train station, and unusually for a major train station the area around it is still very clean and safe.
Good value Chinese buffet near Alter Markt
by SWFC_Fan about Phuc Loc Chinese Restaurant
Phuc Loc Chinese Restaurant is a Chinese all-you-can-eat buffet restaurant located on Kleine Budengasse, near the top end of Alter Markt in Cologne's old town centre.
I ate here twice during my stay in Cologne in July 2006 and was very satisfied with the value for money that this place offers.
Between 12:00 and 18:00, the restaurant offers a Mittagsbuffet for just 5.70 Euros per person. Then, from 18:00 until closing time it offers a more extensive evening buffet at a cost of, if memory serves correct, 9 Euros per person.
On both occasions that I visited the restaurant was almost empty so I had free reign over the buffet! Simply help yourself to as much or as little as you like from the selection of soups, appetizers, salad items, meat and vegetarian dishes, noodles and rice.
The staff are friendly, but largely redundant due to the self service nature of the restaurant. On both visits I opted for the all-you-can-eat Mittagsbuffet at a cost of 5.70 Euros.
Some of the foods that were on offer were as follows:
Vegetable spring rolls - piping hot and stuffed full of vegetables. Very nice!
Soups - I had a few bowls of the delicious hot and sour soup. I frequently have this in Chinese restaurants and the soup here was as tasty as any I've ever had. There was also Peking Soup available, which I didn't try.
Salad items - there is a small selection of lettuce, tomatoes, bean sprouts and Chinese pickle. The Chinese pickle had a nice tang to it.
Appetizers - I ate a selection of prawn crackers, pork wantons, chicken wings (in a breadcrumb coating), chicken pieces in a very tasty batter, fried banana, battered pineapple rings, lemon chicken, some sort of fried vegetable nibbles.
Main dishes - there were 4 main dishes to choose from: chicken chow mein (good quality meat and a very tasty sauce), pork curry (with vegetables in a hot and tasty sauce), fish curry (which I didn't try) and a vegetarian option of stir fried vegetables.
Noodles and rice - fried noodles with vegetables, white rice and egg fried rice with vegetables.
No desserts or drinks are included in the price.
The drinks are reasonably priced. On my first visit I had a local Kolsch beer (200ml) and on my second visit I had a Coca Cola (200ml). On both occasions my drink cost 1.30 Euros.
An excellent value lunchtime buffet for those travelling on a tight budget. Highly recommended!!
smell house
by Tinuvielle
If you have a chance, visit House 4711. It's in this house that the famous Cologne Water was invented! There is a little museum-like display that recalls the history of this said miraculous water. Very interesting! You also get to smell it and buy some if you want (quite cheap, I was surprised).
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Bavarian White Sausages
Cruising on the Rhine
The Rhine from the Cathedral
The railway bridge crossing the Rhine
