Getting to Europe was quick this year -- I heard a flight attendant say as we were boarding that the flight time of 7:35 was the quickest he had ever heard in his many flights to Dusseldorf. So that was a good start. I settled into my business class seat, got the first three courses of my meal while watching episodes of Veep, and settled in to go to sleep a couple of hours in to the flight. Luckily this was about 8pm Atlanta time so it took me a while to finally doze off. But I think I got about three hours of sleep before they woke me up for breakfast. Good enough. Better than what I would have gotten if I had flown in coach.
Getting out of the airport in Dusseldorf was fast and easy. I was first in line at customs and my bag came out within maybe ten minutes. I then hopped on the airport train to the main train station. Paid €2.50 to ride the train into downtown Dusseldorf and found the hotel I had booked the night before. And it was convenient -- it's built into the train station. I could walk right into the lobby without leaving the train station. This was an Ibis hotel and I stayed in an Ibis hotel every night on this trip. They were nice enough to allow me to check in at 830am so I took a quick nap and then bit the bricks. Like in many cities in Europe, all the museums are closed on Monday so I just wandered around and checked out the sights from the outside. I need to change my plan next year and spend less time over there before Christmas. Although the Christmas markets are cool to experience and not all of them are open after Christmas.
Dusseldorf is more of an industrial city than a historical city so there wasn't a ton to see. It's on the Rhein river so I walked all along the pathways along the river and dipped into the Christmas markets that are just a block or two in from the river. Here's a view from my walk along the river!
This is my third year experiencing this Christmas markets and they are pretty cool. There are lots of stands selling knick knacks, which I ignore. The ones that I like are the food and drink stands. Everyone is hanging out w friends and family drinking glauwine -- a hot wine -- or eating grilled bratwurst. I had a bratwurst while people watching then was back on my way, wandering the streets. Here's a picture of the Christmas market, it's right in front of city hall (the building on the right).
I ended up back at my hotel for a quick rest bc the sun goes down at 4. After a short rest, I went back out to a part of the city called Altstadt, or old town. This area contains what is called the worlds longest bar. It's not one big bar but a few blocks where there is just bar after bar after bar. I found exactly what i was looking for at around 8pm-- a Guinness and to watch a soccer game -- Chelsea v Aresenal. Dire game. 0-0. Game was over at about 11 so I went back to the hotel and went to sleep. And that was the end of day 1.
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