Our five-day trip to the Rhineland in Germany began with a 2.15am meet at school and a lengthy fifteen-hour journey from Dover through France and Belgium, finally reaching Cologne. We stayed in the Meininger Hotel which is a clean, new building in the outskirts of the city. On the first evening we explored the local area and went to a lovely park which we did most evenings. There we played football or rounders or sat and chatted with our friends.
On the first day, we began by visiting bustling central Cologne, which was packed with eager tourists; many of them were enthusiastic supporters for the Euros, as England were playing Slovenia in Cologne that evening! We visited a range of tourist attractions, such as the famous Cologne Cathedral which has stunning gothic architecture. We also went shopping and some of us visited the nearby Euros Fan Zone which was buzzing with support for the tournament. We also visited the Lindt Chocolate Factory where we discovered the history of chocolate and saw how it is made (and of course sampled some).
On the second day, we explored the traditional towns of Koblenz and Boppard. We went to the Deutsches Eck where the Rhine and Moselle meet, enjoyed stunning views from two cable cars and went on a relaxing, sunny river cruise along the Rhine.
On the final day before heading back to England, we checked out the Reichsburg, a small historic German castle which overlooked the beautiful town of Cochem. We then visited a theme park where we got to ride an array of wild-themed amusements, like roller coasters and water rides.
Overall, the Germany trip was an amazing experience and gave me an opportunity to delve into the Rhineland’s rich culture and history, as well as enjoying its breath-taking scenery. Many thanks to Mr Giffen, Mr Bhar, Miss Blake, Miss Cooper and Mr Posselt for taking us.
Josie Rogers 9A
