I have regretfully returned from my trip to Germany. We visited Dusseldorf and stayed at Hotel Carat in the aldstadt section. Rooms were nice, clean, and small. I was with a group of 4 other women on business, so that first night we ventured out for dinner to a typical German Restaurant and when we entered the place quieted down immediately-it was kind of funny. I guess women in Germany do not go out at night in a group without a male escourting them? <BR><BR>The following day we went to Aachen and spent 2 nights in the Aldstadt section as well - it was so charming. Tons of shopping, excellent food and wine (I was suprised at how good the food was)and sightseeing. CHarlemagne made this city his home at the end of his tenure and his influence is everywhere, it was pretty heavily damaged by the war as well.<BR><BR>Our next stop was Cologne, we stayed a beautiful hotel - the Savoy, stronlgy recommend this place, again inthe aldstadt. The cathedral is overwhelming, I have been to Notre Dame in Paris, and the Duomo in Florence, but I think the sheer height of this cathedral is greater than either of those, very Gothic architecture - beautiful. Very interesting history and pictoral of the rebuilding after the war of this massive cathedral.<BR><BR>Our last day we took a river cruise up the Rhine from Koblenz to Bacaharach - this was my favorite day of the trip. The leaveswere all changing and the castles and villages along the rhine were spectacular. I was especially impressed with vineyards on a slope of 45 degrees ( I thought hat was only to be witnessed inTuscany). We stopped at Bacrach, shopped and sightseeing, sampled the federweissen, this is the first pressing of the grapes and tasted like apple cider.<BR><BR>The following day it was back to the states, I must say the airport at Dusseldorf is by far the nicest and cleanest I have ever been to, it gleamed.

Jill, where did you eat in Aachen that was especially good? We're going there for the Christmas market this year. Thanks!

We dined at the Postwagon/Ratskellar for German cuisine - excellent, it is right next to the cathedral. The Ratskellar is downstairs and a door over is the postwagon. We had very good Italian at a restaurant called Buccine in the Aldstadt. Enjoy your trip!

Jill, I'm glad you enjoyed your trip.<BR>Of course German women of all ages go to restaurants at night without a man in tow.<BR>Probably those guys who stared at the five of you had never seen so many American women all in one place before. Don't forget that you dress, make up, &amp; behave differently (not better, not worse, just differently) from women here, so you were a novelty for them<BR>So you AND they enjoyed the evening.<BR>Come back soon.<BR>

Jill, sounds like you had a great time. <BR>Aachen is a nice little city. Panvan, when you go to Aachen, try to stop at the old Aachen coffee house. It has tons of old wooden cookie molds for decorations. You should also get some Aachener Prenten, cookies that are only made in the area. I believe that the market is now in 2/3 squares. I have collected several cookie molds from one stand there. They make a great souvenier to display all the time.<BR><BR><BR>