1980 Gouda and Köln/Cologne (7/31/1980)

Thursday, July 31, 1980

Last day of July! Spent an uncomfortable night ignoring the Moroccan, and almost bust my bladder so as to not have to climb over him. Finally arrived in Amsterdam at about 09:30. Bought some provisions before the 10:22 train to Gouda. In Gouda, we at first headed the wrong direction through a peaceful park before finding the extremely crowded cheese area. Stalls were selling everything, but we wanted to see the old men in wooden shoes in horse-drawn carts full of huge rounds of cheese.

Postcard of Gouda market

Gouda cheese market

Gouda Stadhuis/City Hall

Bought ourselves a chunk of cheese, some goudse siroopwafels/Gouda syrup waffles, and a "new" herring sandwich smothered in onions. Walked back to the peaceful park for lunch where a big black dog wanted to share our sandwich.

Terry and Kathy picnic in the park

The apparently raw herring wasn't so bad after all, and we stuffed on St. Patrick bread with the cheese, and sesame crackers with cheese, and orange juice. Back at the market we also saw a cheese-making demonstration and a wooden-shoe carver. We took a train from Gouda to Utrecht where the train schedule decided we should go to Köln, Germany. Got in a “crowded” compartment with two Japanese girls and their huge suitcase and a lady who kept running in and out after every station. In Köln we were able to exchange some money including some coins. Then we stepped out of the station and into the Kölner Dom/cathedral.

Kölner Dom (TAT)

Treasury ticket

Visited the "treasury" for a small fee and walked around in the church. Areas to visit were limited unless you wanted to go to confession. Went out to take some photos and returned to the station. Got some peaches to eat while waiting for the 17:57 train to Koblenz.

Rhine River Valley from the train

Arrived in Koblenz about 19:00, and went on a long search for a hotel. There were none along the street to the waterfront, and none along the waterfront. Walked towards the city center, and passed a 5-star hotel before finding ours. At first we walked into the bar, but left not realizing that was also where the reception desk was. A man came out to call us back and we inquired about a room. I then asked (in German) if I could use my charge cards, and it turned out that I couldn't. The clerk assumed our business was over until I said I had the cash to pay! Took a room with three beds with feather pillows and coverlets. Had a shower stall and a sink; the toilet and tub were just down the hall. Washed some clothes, then went out for dinner. Walked through the city center in search of a McDonald’s type place, but ended up at the Wienerwald near the train station. The service seemed extremely slow. We saw the hotel clerk at another table. Kathy and Terry tried the good homemade chicken noodle soup, and we shared two farmer's dinners and a Frühlingsrolle/spring roll. This Frühlingsrolle had a Chinese egg roll taste and chicken in the filling. The farmer's dinners were not as good as the one Kathy had in München, having bigger chunks of potato and chicken, with bonus skin and organs (stomach?). Also had “rye” seeds as well as onion and bacon bits. For dessert Kathy and I had a "Mozart cup," a kind of chocolate sundae, but the chocolate sauce had a mocha taste. Terry had ice cream. Couldn't get the waitress to come and give us a check until we actually got up to leave. Bought some cans of Fanta to drink on the way back to the hotel. We showered and tried to fix Kathy's sandal with a bit of wire hangar because the thumbtacks didn't work. To bed with the hotel neon sign shining in our window.
Next: Rhein/Rhine River.