My stay in Köln continues

I have extended my stay in Köln for another day. I could not get a reservation in the Rhine Valley – pity. (Ok, ok.. the issue is that I did not begin to search for a room for tomorrow until today!!)

Köln is a big city and I could see myself living here, but not ‘roaming’ here!! Wanting to conserve my limited resources for eating experiences in the hinterlands, I bought a chicken barbeque sandwich and a Bauern (farmer’s) salad from a well-known grocery store chain. I could not detect a single bit of barbeque chicken in the sandwich (it was so bland!!) and the salad had lots of olives, zucchini, peppers and onions… but not a bit of salad greens. Really disappointing!!  Yes, I know I should have been able to see that through the clear plastic wrap… and I did .. but I just convinced myself that it would be delicious nonetheless! As I was leaving the parking garage, I scratched the under-body of my car on the curb. I hate these garages which apparently were built for teeny, tiny cars.. like VWs or Smarts. It is always so difficult getting down those spiral exit passages without scratching my car!!

Also, big, big news!! I talked with my daughter and grand-daughters  - in the USA – via Skype. It really works and I was able to turn on the video so I could see them and they could see me. I have been told that this service is free. So if that is true WOW!!! If not, at least we had a great time. The only problem is: how to let them know I am calling. Apparently the call is placed via the internet, which means that their telephone does not ring but their computer does. So unless you have 'loved ones' who sit at their computer 24 hours per day… you need to tell them exactly what time you will call. 

 Oh by the way, if you need a ‘chip fix’, try Tyrrell’s Hand Cooked English Crisps. They are quite good, I bought a bag last night, finished it and then bought 2 more today.  The chips are British!!  (Sorry to say, the Germans just do not make a good potato chip.)

As I sit here in my hotel room, I can hear a lonely bird cursing out the world. He keeps calling and calling but no one answers!! What a life, at least I can go to a local bar, talk to the locals... and pretend..