Having slightly aclimatised myself to the weather in the UK I still found it freezing cold in Cologne (it stayed around zero degrees all day). We travelled by train from the airport to Cologne and then by tram to Manuels rather large two bedroom flat in an old pre-ww2 apartment block. Having settled a bit we embarked out on a walking daw trip to see the Cologne Cathedral and surrounding areas, we endulged in traditional local foods and walked quite a lone distance around the city seeing many sites and in the night enjoyed a great rest at a traditional coffee shop here. I arrived in Germany with quite a sore shoulder (a result of the transition from Indoesian heat to European cold) it was suggested that I go to Claudius Hermes, which is a traditional German pool, spa and sauna experience. Manuel needed to go to work, so I was doing this by myself.
He explained to me and with a little bit of nervousness we embarked on bikes for the 20 minute cycle alone the great Rhine River to the centre. I have to say this place was absolutly amazing, it was clean and full of many different pools indoors and outdoors of varying temperatures and with strong jets, fountains and whirlpools to help ease the muscles in my shoulder. The outdoor saunas were something I had never experienced, as it was pointed out to me that these were naked. Soooo, into the sauna I went in the nuddy, overcoming my slightly western resistance to the aspect of being completely unclothed and in a "public" facility..well as they say, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do". After my first stint I went back into the pools for more soaking and in a bath that was quite hot, then back into the Saunas. There were many different types of Saunas of varying heat.. And when back in the main one and while I had just started a meditation (as I normally do in my Goodlife Gym Saunas in Oz) in came about 30 naked people. Hmmm...double Hmmmm well I lasted another 20 minutes and exited back to the pools and then showered and changed, feeling great and my shoulder much much better.
With yesterday being such a nice sunny plue sky day I decided to ride along the Rhine River for about 5kms to see a bit of the river and to take some tourist snaps. It is a clean and fast flowing river and quite busy with industrial craft on it, and one taking quite a few brand new cars up the river somewhere. The bike ride was great, I love exploring new places on my own and managed to get my bearings quite easily and arrived safely back to Manuels apartment. :)
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