Like a Rhineland Cowboy...

I want to learn all I can about Holland while I'm here. So, naturally, during my first weekend I decided... to go to Germany. Makes sense, right?

I travelled by train to Bonn where, a good friend and former classmate, Craig was living and working. Bonn is a nice little city with a few sights to take in and many museums in which to pass the time. Some of the trivial highlights about Bonn include:

• Currywurst and fries - it's just like it sounds and it looks rather unpleasant. However, it's apparently a foodstand staple not only in Bonn, but in Germany (my source could be wrong). Having tried it a couple of times, it can best be described as sausages with BBQ sauce (or ketchup) with curry powder. Oh and the fries? They just love mayonnaise all over it. Delicious.

• Pastries - I don't know what Germans collectively decided in making pastries, but they're unbelievably good and cheap (in-and-around €1). I imagine that, in general, they have less hang-ups or concerns about healthy eating as North Americans, so another indulgence can't hurt. My tastebuds definitely benefitted from this style of thinking.

• Bonn's greatest export - I don't know if you know this. And if you do, feel free to skip this part. Bonn is the birthplace of Ludwig van Beethoven. The Beethoven Society has managed to preserve his birthhouse (i.e., Beethovenhaus) and exhibits a variety of Beethoven memorabilia. It's like Graceland for Beethoven groupies.

Another thing to mention about Bonn (or perhaps Germany) is that everything is closed on Sunday. Now I can remember a time in Vancouver when things were closed on Sunday, but that was ages ago. However, pretty much all the shops with a few exceptions take the day off. Sounds great if you're looking for a quiet day off, but can be a nightmare if you're in desperate need of entertainment.

Finally, I took a day trip to Cologne. In practical terms, we went there for the afternoon, saw Kölner Dom, had some awesome Indian food for dinner and left.

All-in-all, a very enjoyable trip.

Teeks