Monday: Good morning Köln Cathedral

And so we begin the final day of our trip before yet another drive over to Brussels to return our car and take the train home. This is our first city hotel and I picked it deliberately to make the most of the two hours we had. It was a 5 minute walk to the cathedral where it became obvious why last night was such a negative experience. The main train station literally spills out on to the steps of the cathedral. Central trains stations are always the most chaotic places in a city and last night was no exception. This morning it looked a little better but still hardly the best showcase for one of the most beautiful cathedrals in the world. Outside it could not have been more Gothic and once inside it was as stunning as any I'd seen across Europe. Despite the crowds it was actually a wonderfully peaceful place and I could have spent hours just looking up at the ceiling.

Begun in the 13th century, work was halted after 200 years and a medieval crane left in place for centuries. The spires were only completed in the 19th century. The building of a cathedral is always an epic tale of perseverance that spans centuries. They are our pyramids. I'm so glad we got the chance to see it on our last morning.