I thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Koblenz, a 2,000 year old city that lies at the Deutsches Eck…read more(German Corner), where the Rhine and Moselle Rivers meet. Our guide was delightful -- she was so enthusiastic about the statue of Emperor William I and devoted several minutes to its history (even though an accordion player was competing for our attention). She also explained why there was an American flag among all the other flags of the 16 German states. There were pieces of the Berlin Wall on display and she shared her family's history with the wall. She led us through the town, through narrow alleyways and past Baroque houses and many city landmarks. I particularly enjoyed the "Eye Roller," spitting boy and Peppermint Lady stories. This was a fairytale town, and our tour ended at the splendid Christmas market. Tour the Upper Middle Rhine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, through castles and vineyards, but make sure to make a visit to the lovely town of Koblenz.

Where Köln is a modern metropolis, Stadt Koblenz is a quant and historical Dorf, with many shops…read moreand churches to see and visit. We spent five hours here and were warmed by both the friendly locals and its history. The Stadt is very walkable and if you get tired, there are plenty of Cafés were you stop for a rest-bit. We really enjoyed ourselves here. Koblenz is on the banks of the Rhine and the Moselle. The confluence is today known as the "German Corner", a symbol of the unification of Germany that features an equestrian statue of Emperor William I. Historical Note: Koblenz was established as a Roman military post by Drusus around 8 B.C. Its name originates from the Latin (ad) cōnfluentēs, meaning "(at the) confluence".[3] The actual confluence is today known as the "German Corner", a symbol of the unification of Germany that features an equestrian statue of Emperor William I. The city celebrated its 2000th anniversary in 1992. It ranks in population behind Mainz and Ludwigshafen am Rhein to be the third-largest city in Rhineland-Palatinate. Its usual-residents' population is 112,000 (as at 2015). Koblenz lies in a narrow flood plain between high hill ranges, some reaching mountainous height, and is served by an express rail and autobahn network. It is part of the populous Rhineland. In 1814, it was occupied by the Russians. The Congress of Vienna assigned the city to Prussia, and in 1822, it was made the seat of government for the Prussian Rhine Province. After World War I, France occupied the area once again. The city was the center of the American occupation force from 1919 - 1923. In defiance of the French, the German populace of the city insisted on using the more German spelling of Koblenz after 1926.

Okay, while I didn't go inside (and I'm not even sure if you can go inside - I didn't check) this…read moreis still a pretty awesome place to check out. Like the towers of the cathedral and Martin Luther's church, the tower of the Historic Rathaus can be seen from most parts of the city, however the impressive nature of the building only comes to the for when you actually get up close to it. Basically the tower is covered in statues of various celebrities of the city. I have to be honest that I don't know who precisely the statues represent, but apparently one of them is a witch. However, even though I don't know the identity of the statues, it is still pretty cool to spend some time admiring the architecture.

If you're the sort of tourist who likes to learn a little about the social history of the places…read moreyou visit, and if you speak German, then I recommend popping into the City Hall. There are a couple tapestries and paintings to view that will give you insights into the city's history, and often art exhibits and such that will give you a sense of the current state of affairs in Cologne. There is also an atrium explaining the legend of the mayor and the lion. However, you need to speak/read German, as virtually nothing is written in English.

This is the reason I love Rodenkirchen. This place has a fresh produce / flower market every…read moreSaturday (and a smaller version on Wednesdays). I love strolling through this area to get some fresh cut flowers, cheese, and some vegetables. The people are friendly and you are shopping in open air. Only downside is, the produce is expensive here. You are paying a higher price for (I'm hoping) not mass produced goods. That said, if you don't like it, you can walk a few blocks from here to a Lidl. It's all closeby. Visit this place on a Saturday and let me know what you think.