Kelcy is thinking about studying abroad in Bonn, so Nate and I went there for the day today to check the place out. Even with the terrible weather, we still had a good time, and we give Kelcy a big 'thumbs-up' to go.
Bonn is an easy two hours drive from Kaiserslautern. It has all the amenities of a large city - trolley, metro, large university, etc., but it isn't overwhelming like Frankfurt. Nate and I were very interested to learn that Bonn was the capital of the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) for 50 years. Bonn lies on the Rhine River, and was home to Ludwig van Beethoven.
In our quest to find edible Mexican food in Germany, we stopped in to Tacos Bonn for lunch. The food was terrible. *Note Kelcy*- you can skip this place. The place really filled up after we left, so the Germans must love it. There were dozens of wonderful looking restaurants, and it looks like there will be many biergartens once it gets warmer.
We then walked around and got the feeling for the town. The buildings are beautiful, and we cannot wait to come back in the summer when the weather is better and the flowers have bloomed.
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| Nate perusing the menu at Tacos Bonn |
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| Cola Light - My favorite! |
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| The decor of Tacos Bonn |
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| Interior of the Namen-Jesu-Kirche |
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| Bundesstadt Bonn - Altes Rathaus (State Building) |
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| Town Square - all around the center, there were all different stalls for fruit, veggies, seafood, coffee, pastries, etc. |
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| Munster (Cathedral) |
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| HARIBO STORE! |
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| Bonn art - Kelcy can appreciate this one. |
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| Beautiful park in front of a University Building |
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| Nate is very mature. |
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| The Rhine River |
We left Bonn and headed south on the right bank of the Rhine. About 9 miles away from Bonn is the city of Konigswinter, within the Siebengebirge uplands. The uplands were formed by rising magma that didn't break the surface, thus cooling and becoming solid. Within this area, there are many remaining Roman ruins, some of which we saw while driving. There are also many nature trails, and a beautiful hotel far up a mountain overlooking Bonn and the Rhine.
Konigswinter is a holiday town, and we look forward to returning when it's warmer. We missed the Drachenbahn (train) that goes up the hill, so we parked our car and walked up a couple kilometers to the Drachenfels castle. It is closed to tourists through the middle of March, so we'll be back. There is a cave further up the hill with a fairy-tale past. It is legend that Siegfried slew the dragon here and bathed in its blood to become invincible.
The castled crag of Drachenfels
Frowns o’er the wide and winding Rhine.
Whose breast of waters broadly swells
Between the banks which bear the vine,
And hills all rich with blossomed trees,
And fields which promise corn and wine,
And scattered cities crowning these,
Whose far white walls along them shine,
Have strewed a scene, which I should see
With double joy wert thou with me!
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| Halfway up the hill - This is a reptile house, that has alligator feedings in the summer for tourists |
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| A charming biergarten on the trek to Drachenfels |
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| The best picture I could get through the bars of the gate. Better pictures to come this Spring! |
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