Plums, Cigars, and... A Horse

Last week Dan and I drove to Köln - the idea was to visit the (enormous) cathedral there, and then head a bit farther west to Aachen, and Charlemagne's final resting place in the Aachen Cathedral.  We didn't get to fully experience either of the sites, however, since we (well, mainly I) discovered that we (again:  I) are beginning to suffer from extreme "cathedral fatigue."
So the plans changed slightly, and we traveled to the small town of Sankt Goer, along the Rhein River, and then on to Bacharach, where we had lunch and climbed towards the Burg Stahleck (Stahleck Castle) before heading down again to catch our train back to Sankt Goer and our car (we didn't make it all the way to the castle, unfortunately).

PLUMS AND CIGARS

While in Köln we decided to sample some of the regional cuisine - the seasonal plum kuchen (plum cake), specifically.  It didn't appear too appetizing on display in the cafe, and the swarm of bees hovering over the slices weren't much of an incentive to "dig in," but we did.

Example of a Plum Kuchen

While I have become particularly fond of European pastries, I can safely say that the plum kuchen will not be topping my list of favorites anytime soon. 


Also, while still in Köln, Dan purchased and later smoked his first Cuban cigar:



He says it may also be his last, but I think the presence of the video camera may have negatively impacted his decision.

WHOA

Dan is constantly discussing and/or sampling food with his co-workers; a while ago, he came home and told me that he had spotted a bag of bread and what he assumed were regular sausages on the table during his lunch break.  After being assured that the food was of the communal variety, he helped himself and prepared a sandwich.  He noted that the meat was 'simply delicious,' and one of the best things he had ever tasted.
Later he was informed that the meat he had eaten hours earlier was formerly a thriving, galloping, and generally content horse.

PLANS 

Wine festival in Bad Dürkheim this weekend?  Perhaps.