Monday, May 11
SUN 3/5/2026 Day 5 PASS 3 cologne to strasbourg
Rail Miles: 224 ; Walk Miles: 4.33 ;
(change at Frankfurt and Offenburg)
A very early start to escape the hotel. Surprisingly coffee was in the foyer so at least they were trying.
Cologne early on a Sunday - you have the streets mostly to yourself.
Except for a multitude of street cleaners who were considerately and carefully avoiding spraying high pressure water hoses near the many homeless sleeping areas around the cathedral square.
cathedral from the river
The Rhine-todays plan
Today was a deliberate mix to take the slow train down the Rhine valley. Travelling to Frankfurt via KOBLENZ & MAINZ forcing the rail planner to select the correct route.
The 2hr 20 min trip worked well. The Rhine was a mixture of working boats, and tourist river/day trip cruisers. All set deep in a valley harkening back to feudal times.
It was a regret when the valley finally flattened out leading to my first change of the day at Frankfurt where I'd built in a short break to visit the city.
Unfortunately I caught myself out. The Germans, quite understandably, use German place names and descriptions for their towns and rail network. So I found myself wandering a truly enormous terminal on the assumption it was Frankfurt centre. The view from outside the station sort of gave me a clue that I'd stepped off a station too early and was at the Frankfurt airport terminal.
Not Frankfurt city centre!
On the plus side a truly impressive rail/airport connections point and a reasonably priced place to grab a bite to eat.On the downside, when I hopped the missing stop, I was relieved that I only had a short stop over as the initial view from the station was a huge deterrent, especially after Cologne.
Frankfurt at last. Perhaps not.
I'm told Frankfurt is a lot better away from the station, but I've no burning desire to find out after my initial view.
Now onto the slower trains towards Strasbourg.
Offenburg became an impromptu visit on a sunny Sunday afternoon.
The train from Frankfurt arrived slightly late for my connection (most of the German trains seemed to do this) But it wouldn't have mattered as the train doors refused to open on arrival. So a quick wander around the area, and a stop off for a small beer as I waited for the next connection.
All part of travelling.
The final all stops train across the border to Strasbourg next, a place I last visited as a schoolboy over 50 years ago.
But Germany wasn't quite finished with me yet. As we left the second station the train stopped, waited, and then reversed back to the station to allow the preceding train, which had broken down, to be recovered. A bit of a delay, in a carriage increasingly heating up in the afternoon sun. But interesting watching the German day trippers response to it all. No drama. Just shrugged and let it blow over them. Good approach.
Finally Strasbourg and my final country on this trip. Another well placed station, which weirdly I didn't photograph, despite sitting in/around it for a couple of hours.But the town is delightful, and better than I remember it.
A mix of the new, and the medieval. All of which is very walkable, as I discovered after I checked into my hotel Le Kléber Hôtel And this one I do recommend. Well placed. Ensuite bathroom. Coffee making facilites and literally 5-10 mins from a selection of places to eat.
A chilling wind was starting up as I wandered the streets assessing somewhere to eat, but there is always something interesting to look at, around each Strasbourg street corner.
one of the many fine Strasbourg churches
around every corner a new surprise
And finally a fine meal at La Corde a Linge restaurant
..and yes, les escargots were magnifique. The chef had even done the hard work of deshelling them.
Rail Miles: 224 ; Walk Miles: 4.33 ;
(change at Frankfurt and Offenburg)
A very early start to escape the hotel. Surprisingly coffee was in the foyer so at least they were trying.
Cologne early on a Sunday - you have the streets mostly to yourself.
Except for a multitude of street cleaners who were considerately and carefully avoiding spraying high pressure water hoses near the many homeless sleeping areas around the cathedral square.
cathedral from the river
The Rhine-todays planToday was a deliberate mix to take the slow train down the Rhine valley. Travelling to Frankfurt via KOBLENZ & MAINZ forcing the rail planner to select the correct route.
The 2hr 20 min trip worked well. The Rhine was a mixture of working boats, and tourist river/day trip cruisers. All set deep in a valley harkening back to feudal times.
It was a regret when the valley finally flattened out leading to my first change of the day at Frankfurt where I'd built in a short break to visit the city.
Not Frankfurt city centre!On the plus side a truly impressive rail/airport connections point and a reasonably priced place to grab a bite to eat.
On the downside, when I hopped the missing stop, I was relieved that I only had a short stop over as the initial view from the station was a huge deterrent, especially after Cologne.
Frankfurt at last. Perhaps not.
Another well placed station, which weirdly I didn't photograph, despite sitting in/around it for a couple of hours.
Frankfurt at last. Perhaps not.I'm told Frankfurt is a lot better away from the station, but I've no burning desire to find out after my initial view.
Now onto the slower trains towards Strasbourg.
Offenburg became an impromptu visit on a sunny Sunday afternoon.
The train from Frankfurt arrived slightly late for my connection (most of the German trains seemed to do this) But it wouldn't have mattered as the train doors refused to open on arrival. So a quick wander around the area, and a stop off for a small beer as I waited for the next connection.
All part of travelling.
The final all stops train across the border to Strasbourg next, a place I last visited as a schoolboy over 50 years ago.
But Germany wasn't quite finished with me yet. As we left the second station the train stopped, waited, and then reversed back to the station to allow the preceding train, which had broken down, to be recovered. A bit of a delay, in a carriage increasingly heating up in the afternoon sun. But interesting watching the German day trippers response to it all. No drama. Just shrugged and let it blow over them. Good approach.
Finally Strasbourg and my final country on this trip.
But the town is delightful, and better than I remember it.
A mix of the new, and the medieval. All of which is very walkable, as I discovered after I checked into my hotel Le Kléber Hôtel And this one I do recommend. Well placed. Ensuite bathroom. Coffee making facilites and literally 5-10 mins from a selection of places to eat.
A chilling wind was starting up as I wandered the streets assessing somewhere to eat, but there is always something interesting to look at, around each Strasbourg street corner.
one of the many fine Strasbourg churches
around every corner a new surpriseAnd finally a fine meal at La Corde a Linge restaurant
..and yes, les escargots were magnifique. The chef had even done the hard work of deshelling them.
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