Fav Spot #7 - My combination of leisure & work in Cologne

The series "Fav(orite)-spot" was created after our customers often sent feedback and travel reports to us. So everyone can read where its most beautiful and maybe visit one or the other place.

I had a company training in Cologne for three days starting Monday and was looking on ShareMyProp.com for a domicile where I could spend the weekend privately and then during the training days would also be close by.

Fortunately, an acquaintance of mine had his apartment for rent on the website, so I could stay there for 4 nights. The booking was very easy and the apartment met all my expectations.

I arrived on Saturday and picked up the key for the apartment in a key locker, which was installed in the backyard of the house. Very convenient, so we had no stress with the delivery of the key, because I did not know exactly when I would arrive.

I used Sunday to finally enjoy Cologne, I had been there several times on training, but had never taken extra time to look at the city a little closer.

I started my tour near the Cologne Cathedral. It is currently scaffolded in parts, but you could still see much of the beautiful Gothic architecture. I have been to the foot of the cathedral, but I have never seen it from the inside.

I learned that construction began in 1248 but was not completed until 1880. Nearly 300 years of construction stoppage caused the population to create a folk saying that went something like this:

"When the cathedral is finished, the world will end."

The cathedral survived World War II virtually unscathed and has been a World Heritage Site since 1996. The Pope has also been there, John Paul II was the first to visit the cathedral in 1980.

I continued walking towards the historic old town, on the way I saw the various markers placed there after different floods. You can also read the Rhine level at the "Kölner Pegel", right on the bank of the Rhine. I also walked through the old Roman harbor road and took a break at the busy Heinrich-Böll-Platz.

I also passed the old market and the Heumarkt (hay market), where there is a beautiful equestrian monument to admire. I then sat down in the streetcar and went in the direction of Hohenzollernbrücke (bridge). The architecture of the bridge has also always fascinated me. Now I finally had my photo, along with many beautiful photos of the various trains crossing the bridge.

Late in the afternoon, I went to the Chocolate Museum, not a bargain with €14.50 admission, but I always wanted to see how chocolate is actually produced. The exhibition was huge, but it was totally exciting, especially there was always a tasting, which I gladly took. So I finished the afternoon in the "Chocolat Grand Café", of course with chocolate specialties and a big piece of cake. Well, and on Monday I started my company training. I was really happy to return to my apartment every evening, I could make myself comfortable there and didn't have to rely on the hotel bar or small hotel rooms without a view.

The combination of free time and work was really worth it for me, I finally got to see Cologne and booking through ShareMyProp was really easy. Everything fit together well, a clear recommendation!