Year 8 Trip to Cologne

Die weihnachtsmärkte nach Köln klassenfahrt

(The Christmas market class trip to Cologne) By Sean Murphy 8D2

Last year on the 8th December the current year 8s who study Spanish and German went on a fun trip to Köln, Deutschland (Cologne, Germany.) On the morning of the 8th we had to get up at the dreadful time of about 3’clock to arrive at school at half past five in the morning, and we stood in the freezing cold (which was actually nothing compared to Germany) waiting for the coaches and the rest of the group. We eventually said Auf Wiedersehen to London and set off on a 14 hour journey to Cologne.

The coach drove through England passing lots of snow until we arrived at Dover and got on the ferry at about 8:30. We had our breakfast on the ferry while being thrown around by the choppy channel. We eventually landed in Calais, France at 10:45.

We then passed through France and on to Belgium and encountered lots and lots of snow and finally reaching Germany in some areas you looked out of the window it was just a sheet of white paper with no beginning or end. We arrived in Cologne and went to our hostel. We had our dinner which wasn’t the nicest but was worth eating as we were all hungry, then went for some night games and then to bed.

The next day we were up early ready for a very cold day ahead of us. We got the coach to the centre and stopped outside the cathedral which was huge and soared right up into the sky. It was so windy. Then we had a tour of the city looking at a Roman mosaic floor and seeing a monument of a boy “mooning the town.” After standing in the cold we were free to experience the great Christmas markets and try the famous German food. We had “Bratwurst” (sausages) “Reibenkucken” (a potato and egg like hash brown with apple sauce.) We moved on to a medieval market where they had some drinks called an “Apfelschole” (a fizzy apple juice) and a “Glühwein” or a “Kinderglühwein” (a very sweet drink with alcohol and the children’s “kinder” version.) I found it very bitter and got to keep a Christmas mug with a story on it in German.

After enjoying the markets and buying gifts we went to the “Sports Museum” to experience world records and sports history. Then we had more leisure time in Cologne to visit the markets and practise our German, in the evening after eating we went to a few night markets with all the trees and stalls lit up and also got to try more food!

On the last day we went to the place we all looked forward to the Schokoladenmuseum (chocolate museum) and watched a factory type area that was not in use, making chocolate and the smell was great and also buying some tasty chocolate!

After we said Auf Wiedersehen to Germany and set off on a long journey back to Haydon. We arrived at school at around midnight. Overall the trip was great and we all had a lot of fun, definitently a trip that will be enjoyed again in future years. Thank you to Mr. Robertshaw, Mr Squibb and the German Department for organising such an enjoyable and educational trip!