KOBLENZ, GERMANY 18/2/01

An important city in west central Germany, Koblenz looked worthy of a visit for its historic buildings. So, one Sunday morning ...

Church of Saint Castor (completed 1208)

Five hours driving there and back for one bloody picture! OK, there were other 'highlights' to the day. Inside the church, we were cornered by the curate (is that the right word?). In broken English he detailed the long history of the building, concentrating on damage sustained and avoided during the second world war, and occasionally diverting into what sounded suspiciously like a defence of Nazi atrocities. In the main this consisted of attacking the Americans for atrocities committed and conveniently forgotten during their own short history. Fair enough, and we've never been two to complain about someone attacking Americans, but there was something not quite right about a man of god seeming to turn a blind eye to the horrific crimes of his own country ...

In the town we stopped at a quaintly pink and chandeliered teashop for some lunch. There were the usual problems explaining Mo's vegetarianism to a country of dedicated meat eaters but, after only one returned meal, she ended up with a plate containing no dead animals. Meanwhile, unafraid of flesh and happy to experiment with foreign cooking, Steve blindly ordered the 'Omlette Surprise'. Big mistake. A deliciously thin and eggy omelette was filled with soggy pink and grey chicken pieces, suspended in a translucent, grey sauce the consistency of phlegm. It tasted no better.

We also took a detour to have a look at the Nurburgring, the German Grand Prix race track (Mo's continuing F1 obsession). A nice drive through rolling German countryside but, at the high altitude of the track, the lingering snow and blanket of fog meant we could see precisely nothing of the track. Doh!