December 23rd, 2011
Walked to London-St Pancras International for the 8am EuroStar to Brussels. I was hoping to have some time to explore both the train and the platform, but was surprised to discover airport-style security and procedures at St Pancras and so was not able to get a shot of the EuroStar either there or in Brussels. The Chunnel was... well, dark. And my seat on the EuroStar was marketed as a "window" seat, but it had a pillar between the large windows and so I could not see out. It was fairly anticlimactic and I ended up sleeping most of the trip instead. In Brussels I watched trains come and go at the station, finding them dirty and unattractive. I caught the ICE at 14:25 to Cologne, where I got off the train, walked across the platform, and boarded the train to Duisburg that was leaving so soon I was moving before the ICE that I had gotten off!
Dusseldorf, Germany
Dusseldorf is an industrial city in the Ruhr Valley.
December 24th, 2011
My hosts here took me exploring in the area immediately around where I am staying. We explored Munchengladbach (without the camera) and then Krefeld, riding the tram back.
Krefeld, Germany
Krefeld is a small city between Dusseldorf and the Dutch border.
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I took the Tram from Krefeld Hbf to St. Tonis.
December 25th, 2011
We travelled to Cologne for lunch with family of my hosts, then spent an hour exploring the cathedral, railway station, and historical bridge in the city's centre.
Koln (Cologne), Germany
Cologne is a historic city in the Ruhr Valley along the River Rhein.
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Trains cross the historic bridge in Cologne as night sets in.
December 26th, 2011
I left Krefeld for Fulda, taking an hour to step over the border into Holland with a quick trip into the town of Venlo. The weather was unpleasant and so I did not go far. Then back on the train and off to the small city of Fulda, northeast of Frankfurt.
Krefeld, Germany
Krefeld is a small city between Dusseldorf and the Dutch border.
Viersen, Germany
Viersen is north-west of Monchengladbach on the German-Dutch border.
Dusseldorf, Germany
Dusseldorf is an industrial city in the Ruhr Valley.
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Trains pass through Dusseldorf Hauptbahnhof fast and furious.
Frankfurt, Germany
Frankfurt is one of Europe's most important transportation hubs, with its airport the city's largest employer and the train station equally important to the domestic transportation system.
December 27th, 2011
I explored Fulda with a friend there, then took the train up to Hamburg for the next item on the checklist.
Fulda, Germany
Fulda is a regionally important city comparable in size to Guelph. It is best known in modern times as a strategic city in the Cold War that both NATO and the Soviet Union essentially had plans to destroy in the event that the war became hot.
Hanover, Germany
Hanover is around an hour south of Hamburg.
Luneburg, Germany
Luneburg is just outside of Hamburg to the southeast.
Hamburg, Germany
Hamburg is the second largest city in Germany, and has the country's largest seaport. It is also home to Miniatur Wunderland, the world's largest model train layout, an impressive site I highly recommend.
December 28th, 2011
I visited Miniatur Wunderland, the world's largest model train layout, and then spent some time exploring downtown Hamburg before taking off for Berlin.
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Miniatur Wunderland is the world's largest model train layout. Open some 17 hours a day, it is a very popular tourist attraction. With what they have done with it, it is no surprise; if you are within striking distance of Hamburg, visit Miniatur Wunderland.
Wittenberge, Germany
Half way between Hamburg and Berlin is Wittenberge. The area is full of large wind farms.
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This is what the world looks like riding the Germany's high speed ICE between Hamburg and Berlin.
Berlin, Germany
One of the most storied cities I've visited, Berlin is the capital of the reunited Germany with many reminders of the Second World War and the Cold War everpresent in the city, a must-visit for any European traveler
December 29th, 2011
A friend of mine living in Berlin showed me around this vast historic city, walking for some five non-stop hours. It is an amazing place which words can't really describe. From there I took the overnight train to Zurich, Switzerland.
