May was definitely a nice time to visit Germany. I got to see the green, enjoyed the breeze, the drive to places. But mostly I remember the people I met, the smiles and beers, the laughs we shared even when I only knew them for that short period of time.

Caption: @ Andy house – @ local uni cafe listening to unplugged – Tommy & Christian looking dorky

Caption: Habiba & Thommy – Me and Martin – Me and Ang

Caption: The boys having a go at each other – The poses for old friends – The gentle smile of a couple (Kersten)

Caption: The naughty kiss – Our first beers together we shall meet again Andy. Thanks for letting me crash onto your bed, kind rude I always thought (and yes you dont think so I know).

These are the people who really take me for who I am, no prejudices just frank good times.

Thank you all.

Finally to my Big C who were there with me, took me through the journey. May God bless you!

Along the river rest many charming cities hugging the bank as it flows down south:  Dusseldorf, Koln, Bonn, Mainz, and Frankfurt and many others.

In this part of Germany, heritage and history dated back from the Middle Ages period showcased by a series of  scattered castles and towers, sitting comfortably in mid hillside, surrounding by well more green.  I was amazed to the number of castles and the small towns around. I thought Scotland topped up the castles along the river like no other nation. I was wrong.

These castles are smaller and not off the dukes, king or queens but rather the owners must have consumed much taxes, goods from merchant ships passing by and showing off their wealth, making a mark of their own.

It was a nice cruise in the 4 wheels we had. Imagine the cabriolet would be nicer but I enjoyed the wind, the scenery. At times I stopped at some kiosks for the ultimate snack: currywurst!!! The all-mighty Rhein also led us to the ‘fashionable’ Dusseldorf where my respect for the German architect finally shown. My friend was shocked when I gasped…well it was a natural creation when you saw something magnificent in a travel book and you’re driving towards it…after getting lost, it was satisfying. My friend said working in these buildings is horrible, and not practical at all.  It made me wonder…well that’s odd for German ’s fame of practicality. But who cares, they are amazing 3 trio of the same maker!

The area was full of office buildings, some creative industry offices like Ogilvy just around the corner. There’s an outdoor cafe for the much needed residents from that horribly strikingly beautiful creation. A lot of cigarettes I guess. Another building, on the other side of the bank, freaky! Human-like figures climbing outside of the building, they stuck there.?!?!…what a way to decor I thought. Despite my enthust, a German friend of mine was not so amused with my ‘excitement’, to him it’s an everyday scene. Probably true if he lives and breaths around it 24hours, but if he was to live in a totally different place, I bet the guy would really miss it.

The scenic trip stopped on a bright sunny day, we stopped at Speyer & Heidelberg where the May tree and castle view greeted me with joy and fresh air. I lied on the grass ground down on top of the hill, taking a break under the breeze. Part of the castle was damaged but the view from top was nice…made me wonder how would it be like to live here? Well the have a university, shopping areas and even a Vietnamese restaurant….wonderful beer gardens, a massive church and its own charm. Maybe just a wee bit too quiet for a wondering spirit. I grabbed some bread and sausage, sat next to the church and enjoyed the rest of the afternoon.

thinking…what to do with a house like this?

Almost all restaurants had the Spargel on the menu. In fact some of them had an entire menu just for spargel. I had one home-cooked by Big C’s dad, extremely simple: soft boil, melted butter sauce, and special ham (spargel flavour ham of course) and foil-rolled roast baby potatoes. Then I tried to cook spargel the way I like it….a bit more crunchy …

then I had spargel at Frankfurt airport before departure…..so that’s in all a lot of spargel in a 9 days-trip.

Spring in Germany was beautiful. It has come as a shock to me as how green and lovely the places I visited. I always make a joke about the ‘rural’ Bonn and debated over the fact that it does not deserve a ‘city’ title. Maybe that is why it has such a charm.

It was warm and cool at the same time by the end of May. I arrived in Bonn early in the morning…and could not really grasp how peacefull and green the place was until the car was driving up the hill to our residential, poking my head outside of the old Ford window…looking down city center…

Among those trees and bushes are the stiff, cold square buildings, the reminiscence from the old capital of West Germany – Bonn, still stand proud today.

Well….most of the ‘Bonners’ are largely politicians  and the city still holds a significantly preferred location to host international political conferences, European meetings and the alike.

Home to quite a few recognised items : Deutsche Post Headquarter, the beloved Haribo, well the kinda genius Beethoven, then the UN decided to also place some crucial offices in the area like Langer Eugen and yes the Hans Riegel Bonn (museum complex)….to name a few.

What impressed me most is the spacious area, the lay back attitude among such a conservative crowd and culture, plus the charming Rhein.

Just 20min outside the city center is a series of odd offices, I decided to explore. Off area but great view. The cafe/restaurant Rohmuhle overlooking the bridge and DPost building has such a relaxing atmos…pricey cafe food with middle class diners and customers. The green grass covers the entire area…where lots of joggers and dog-walkers stroll at their pace.  It was windy though…but peaceful.

I ventured a bit more in our rental Cooper to Petersberg, a hotel up the hill, a bit further away from Bonn city, still in the region.  There was nobody there for some reasons…maybe they’re all still sleeping. Located on the top of a hillside, again over looking down to the Rhein, the hotel was vast, the kind of place where you would hold your wedding their with great greenery, countryside feel for photogenic couples, and the menu well….sure burn a hole in your pocket.

Steigenberger Grandhotel Petersberg

So hence why not to snap a shot…

On the way back, I tried the curry wurst ‘haus’ by the highway….my search began for the best tasting curry wurst (next chapter).

I had fun in Bonn, mainly because knowing a few locals make you feel less alienated. When you hit the local pub, got wasted over liters of beer, had a kebab at the train station around… 4am…

Bonn is small but charming. The kind of city where nothing much happening apart from a great university (where rock music festival sometimes play, where a bunch of students and friends hang out during class or after by the beergarten by the Rhein), the kind of city where you hesitate at first but then you kind like it. My last memory of Bonn was being there on a Sunday around 3pm in town near a central church, when the bell rang and a group of friends gathering around the chapels, celebrating happiness and love.

For tourists, I guess you can visit Bonn in 1-2 days max with all the attractions relatively close and central. Visit the Beethoven haus, museum quarter – 2 candidates I enjoyed: Kunstmuseum Bonn, Kunst- Und Ausstellungshalle Der Bunderprepublik Deutschland (actually great, I love the collection there it was modern art, would take entire day to finish them all) – beware the museums’ bookshop will also alluring with great local art souvenirs, take a walk around University, chill at outdoor cafes around town and enjoy the cool gentle breeze. Food in Bonn is not overly exciting but the local cafes offer the must try beer  Kolsch and food like  the turkish delight stalls, esp the weekend Food market and the  Flaschengeist shop for unique gifts of vinegar, oils, wines and herbs.

After all it’s spargel season, a must try experience.