Day 5 was easily one of my favorite days on the trip.  I hated to leave Luxembourg as early as I did, but that was my only hiccup become of the events in Belgium.  Wednesday morning I was traveling from Luxembourg to Cologne, Germany via a train along the Moselle River Valley.  I enjoyed this valley more than what I saw of the Rhine River Valley, but I don't think I was seeing the touristy bits of it. 

My train weaved and curved in and out of river bends with surprising sights around every turn.  Even though the day was still a little cloudy, it was picturesque.

 

 

My first stop was Trier, Germany, one of the oldest cities in Europe and it has deep Roman roots.  As a side note, German police boarded the train at the border to do a loose security and passport check. 

 

Trier was my hidden gem on the trip.  It is fairly well known, but probably not to the casual tourist.  Heading into the old city, you first cross the Black Gate from Roman times.  I always try to picture myself in the time that something was built.  Here that would be around 180 AD.  I am impressed with this gate like 1800 years and change later.  Just imagine it then.

 

The town itself was very beautiful also.  Definitely somewhere that you escape to and enjoy the wine of the region.

 

City side of the gate.

 

The city core was one of the best I have been to.  A lot of good pedestrian only streets and I felt like it was busy for a Wednesday.

 

Next stop on my circular path through the city was the Trier Catherdral, a massive Gothic church that sits on Roman foundations.  It is actually a collection of styles and churches. 

 

I was very surprised by a lot of things at this church.  One of my favorites, easily. What we see above ground now was started in the early 1200s. 

 

Wish I would have noticed how much glare I had in some of these pics. 

 

Back outside I continued on to the Roman Baths.

 

The Kurfürstliches Palais, which is now an admin building.  If you look closely, there is a photo shoot happening out front.  The Konstantin-Basilika in the background is the largest single room Roman structure still standing.  The surprises and uncovering them in this city were amazing.

 

The Imperial Baths.  They are reconstructing a lot of this site.  What a city this must have been back in the day also.

 

I really love all the Roman brick work.

 

Back on the train and heading on to Cologne.

 

Some of the many, many vineyards that I passed. 

 

I got off the train at some real small town to go see some castle that would have been about a 2 mile walk.  Below is the boarded up train station.  I quickly realized that there was nowhere to store my suitcase, so I semi-patiently waited for the next train on, for 45 minutes.  Ha, it was chilly, and I should have not stopped, but oh well, part of the adventure.  No telling how many beautiful little things that I flew by on this train trip.

 

Made it to Cologne fairly late in the day.  The central train station lets you out right at the awe inspiring Cologne Cathedral.  Very massive and impressive, but I would look at it another day.

 

I checked into my Courtyard Marriott and ....

 

... I was off to explore Cologne at night.  What a thoroughly enjoyable day.