Year 9 Explore Cologne and the Rhine

On Wednesday 24th September, while the rest of Year 9 were completing homework, 36 Y-side students set off for Germany!

We had a fun journey on the ferry and then drove through the night, arriving in Cologne just in time for breakfast. After dropping our bags, we took a tram into the city to explore. We visited the Old Town Hall and the magnificent Gothic Cathedral, admiring its intricate stonework and dramatic gargoyles. The spires, silhouetted against the sky, looked almost like lace!

By then, we were getting hungry, so we walked to the river — passing the Hohenzollern Bridge with its many love locks — and had lunch near the Chocolate Museum. After eating, we headed inside to learn about how chocolate is made… and, of course, to taste some too!

We ended our day in the city with a cruise on the River Rhine, spotting a mix of traditional buildings and some very unusual ones that looked like upside-down Ls!

Before leaving the next morning, we enjoyed a traditional German breakfast with fresh bread rolls, jam, cheese and sausage — a perfect start to the journey home.

We had a fantastic time, loved discovering new places, and enjoyed being together in Deutschland!