A cheapo ride share to the Hilton

can you see how fast that is?? i believe it's...180...
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Well, with just enough time in Hamburg to do laundry return library books, We took off again, this time for a little visit with Barb and her Balkissoons.

We got a ride, through a rideshare internet program, from a guy named Tim, an avid coaster fan. He's part of the ECC (European Coaster Club) and well as the GCE (German Coaster Enthusiasts). So, he and his club go around to all the different amusement parks and ride roller coasters. I love enthusiasts. I'd like to be one. Of what, I don't know.

Scott and a lichtenstein
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So, it was a four hour drive through rain, sun, rain, sun, rain, sun... well, you get the point. So, as we approached Cologne we said "can you drop us at the Hilton" And Tim replied "you are ride-sharing to the HILTON?" so we had to explain the family thing. It was a good drop off point because he was picking up his girlfriend a few blocks away!!

We walked around a bit because we were early, then waited outside (and a little ways away, we don't really look like hilton types). at around the appointed time, Ron poked his head out and led us into the land of OZ.

me and Barb in front of the Dom (you may have to enlarge to make it clear)
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Hoo-boy, I thought the Milan hotel was nice. Well, it was no Hilton. Half the time we were there I could't remember what country we were in because everyone spoke english!

We went up to the rooms and gave hugs to everyone after dropping all our stuff. We went out to a steak house where scott and I had our first fresh decent meat since we've been here (not that we've been eating rotten stuff, we've been eating dried pepperoni and sausages and things!), some nice juicy steaks with pommes frites. Back at the hotel, we got dressed up and went to the lounge where we watched some piano jazz while having some cocktails.

the Hilton room, all mussed up by dem Canadians
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The next day, the whole family trained down to Frankfurt where Ron and the kids were flying home from. The Barb drove back up in her rental car. While she was gone, Scott and I went to the Wallraf-Richartz Museum which has a nice collection of 13th century to 19th century on three floors. Scott gave me a nice art history lesson in what we both used to think of as boring religious art and I can now say that I can see the differene between them and actually enjoy them!

Next, we stopped at the hotle to leave a note for barb that we would meet her at four, then we headed to the Ludwig Museum of Modern Art. We spent at least an hour in the pop art section and actually saw a piece that is by the aunt of our roomate in Kelowna! (Janet Cardiff)

I can't remember the artist but I love the way he/she does skin tones and all the vibrant colours!
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Scott can give you more information about that gallery, he's writing a paper on it for school!

i went back to the hotel at four to meet barb but she had gone shopping. What to do?

ahhh. luxuriate in the huge hilton tub with hilton bath products and hilton mineral water. And a book! (of course- what's a bath without a book??) Then I luxuriatedin hilton slippers and towels.

For dinner we went to a charming little old german restaurant with a genuinly rude waiter. we are fairly certain he hates us. Barb asked for the wine list; he brings a jug of crappy house wine and slops it into our glasses. I tell him i don't know what i want yet he says "you want to eat??? what you eat??" so i quickly pointed at something (which was norwegian salmon and very tasty). Periodically he would walk up and say "GUT? GUT! GUT!" He only got friendly right at the end when tip time came!!!

After dinner we went back to the hotel lounge for Bailey's and milk, then we retired to our amazing hilton beds with amazing hilton feather duvets and amzing hilton feather pillows. mmmm dreamland!