Danube Cruise Thursday 06 October 2011

We arrive in Passau at about 07:30, along with a load of other ships. Thursday must be changeover day.
All of our luggage was to be left outside of our cabins by 07:30 and each group has their own colour coded label to put on each case. Ours were orange.
The crew will then collect all of the bags and put them in their coloured piles ready for unloading. We are going to be one of the last as I have to fetch the coach and I anticipate departing at 09:00.
The first shuttle bus will not depart for the parking garage until 08:30 which doesn’t leave me munch time so I manage to blag a lift with the luggage man who is going back to the yard with a van full of cases.
The coach is still there ready and waiting. I refill the drinks water, sort myself out and drive back to the quayside.
Our cases are waiting outside of the ship and after waiting a few minutes for other busses to go I pull up and load up.
It is sad to be leaving the ship but all good things must come to an end as we begin our journey to our overnight hotel in Koln.
I fill up with fuel on the way and what should be an easy drive to Koln is a bit of a chore due to heavy traffic, roadwork’s and accidents.
The hotel we are staying at, the Renaissance, is a new one to me and is located in the centre of this famous city.
I expected to be here between 17:30 and 18:00 at the latest but we don’t arrive until 19:15.
On first impressions the hotel looks very luxurious as I check in and arrange dinner for 20:00. The only downside is having to park the coach a way away from the hotel. Once parked I start to walk back but realise it will take me ages so I grab a cab and am driven back. Even going by taxi I am not back until 20:15, leaving me just enough time to clean my teeth and go down for dinner. The hotel had kindly taken my case and laptop to my room on the sixth floor. A quick peep out of the window shows me I am overlooking Koln centre and the Cathedral. It is a shame to be so rushed as the room is magnificent, with a bed as wide as it is long, and every bit as luxurious as my first impression.
The service in the restaurant is first class with lots of waiters and waitresses busily and efficiently going about their work.
The starter for our meal tonight was both unusual and delicious – goats cheese crème brulee! A combination that was delightful.
The Cathedral is only a ten minute walk away and some of the group go for a stroll after dinner while I retire to my room to send details of the changes to the brochure to Dan at the printers. For the first time in a week I can go online!