# 16 Beautiful Stories

For 7:

Ute urgently advised us to make a stop on the way to Remagen to visit the Hans Arp Museum. It was established in 2007 in the district of Rolandseck within the classicist train station building and adjacent new constructions.

And since we were well on schedule, a short stop was in order.

The entire complex is located right by Federal Road 9, which still runs alongside the river and is used by many day-trippers on Sundays. The museum is also well attended.

Upon entering the entrance area, we realize: one needs half a day for a visit here.

So we just soak in the historical train station building and the integrated restaurant. In fact, the station is still in operation, as tracks and stop information remain behind the building.

On the upper floor, the former large waiting room of the station now hosts an upscale restaurant that embraces the charm of the old building with its chandeliers and window fronts.

From the terrace, you can enjoy a lovely view of the garden area and the Rhine River. As a special highlight, we were recommended the restroom facility.

Indeed, you enter a room full of wall paintings, true works of art that distract from the actual purpose of the room.

After a coffee and many impressions, we set off. Bonn is only 20 km away.

For 8:

Ute recommended a parking spot near her at Stationsweg in Bonn-Ippendorf. It is also mentioned on Park 4 Night and described as a unique spot in the heart of Bonn. After initial residential development, it quickly gives way and you drive into a wooded avenue that offers a view of Bonn from a high vantage point. On the right side, a lot of unpaved parking bays are available. There are no signs, so nothing is prohibited. At the end of the road, you find the Catholic Kreuzberg Church which also hosts an international education center.

On Sunday afternoons, a few walkers and joggers roam here, but we can set up beautifully with a view of the federal city of Bonn from above.

Ute is already waiting for us and is happy that we have found the parking spot to our liking.

After a welcome drink, Helmut joins us, and we enjoy a nice meal at the Vietnamese restaurant in the evening.

There are many conversation topics to share from both sides. Ute and Helmut have just returned from several weeks in India and are as travel-hungry as we are.

We arrange a bike tour for Monday along the Rhine.

Then it’s back to the wilderness by the RV. And when one is again parked freely, one hears every noise and is attentive. This can disturb sleep significantly. However, it is actually completely peaceful and pleasant.

For 9:

Federal city Bonn - this designation is indeed allowed for the former capital. It was granted after the relocation of the federal government was completed in 1999/2000. However, some federal ministries remained behind and still have their seat here (Defense, Food and Agriculture, Health, Education and Research, Environment and Nature Conservation). All other federal ministries based in Berlin have a second office in Bonn.

Moreover, after the departure of the federal government, several significant federal agencies (Deutsche Telekom, Deutsche Post AG) and international organizations (United Nations, UN) have settled here. They benefited from the vacated properties that could be taken over without much effort.

Bonn is thus a city with a high degree of international interdependence and refers to itself as the UN City on the Rhine.

As we ride our bicycles in the afternoon along the Rhine, we get an impression of the government offices and former government buildings. The Rhine promenade from the city center towards Bad Godesberg is filled with historically significant buildings (Villa Hammerschmidt, Chancellor's Bungalow, Waterworks, Langer Eugen…).

Afterward, we dive into the Rhine meadows and ride through the city's green lung.

I'm glad it's Monday, and the bike traffic is manageable. On a public holiday with good weather, it must be as busy as a bike highway here.

On the opposite side of the Rhine, several mountains rise that belong to the Siebengebirge. Helmut draws my attention to a prominently visible complex on a hill.

At the top of Petersberg lies the guesthouse of the Federal Republic of Germany, which is still in use. International conferences with far-reaching decisions are also held here at irregular intervals. These are then linked with the location of the conference (Petersberg Agreement, Petersberg Decisions) and gain international significance.

Behind Bad Godesberg, we cross the Rhine on a ferry and arrive in Königswinter. We plan to overcome the 200 meters in altitude to the Drachenfels Castle by cogwheel train.

For 10:

Drachenfels Castle - here Siegfried once fought against the dragon Fafnir and bathed in its blood to become invulnerable.

The Drachenfels is regarded as an icon of Rhine romanticism. According to legend, the fearsome dragon here kept a lookout for ships on the Rhine - just as today do tourists who have either walked or taken the cogwheel train to the 321-meter high summit.

We took the train.

And indeed, from up here, there is a unique view into the Rhine valley southwards and northwards towards the Bonn/Cologne metropolitan area.

In the best weather, even the mountains of the Eifel can be seen today.

Below the Drachenfels ruins stands Drachenburg Castle, which offers visitors insight into the architectural design of the castle, the landscape park, and the history of the castle.

Furthermore, under shady trees, there is a beer garden that attracts us and offers a refreshing drink.

The story of the Nibelungs and Siegfried as the main character was one I loved reading as a child. And now I stand at the place that fascinated me back then.

Thank you for the lovely excursion ….

The cogwheel train brings us back to the valley station, and our bikes take us back along the sunny Rhine bike path to Bonn. In the afternoon, this side of the Rhine is recommended because the sun shines here longer. Over there, it has already disappeared behind the trees, and the bank lies in the shadow.

The bike traffic increases in the afternoon. Many people seem to use their bikes for commuting to and from work.

In the Bonn city area, we have to take a break at the “Blue Monkey.” The beer garden is well known and popular, as you can also enjoy a lovely view of the Rhine and the former government buildings across the way.

We end the evening with a visit to the Italian restaurant in Bonn's city center. “Tuscolo” serves enormous pizzas that fill you up just by looking at them.

Helmut says goodbye (with half his pizza in a box), as he lives not far away.

Then the three of us bike up the hill to Ippendorf through Poppelsdorf. I'm very glad that we all have E-support.

On the next day (Tuesday), we will continue our journey. However, Ute insists that we come for breakfast at her place.

We are happy to do so; she conjures up another fabulous breakfast with rolls, cheese, fried eggs, and cold cuts.

Then comes the moment of farewell. We would be happy to welcome both of you again in Bremen sometime!

Before heading north along the Rhine, there are still two things to take care of:

- A shopping trip to the Haribo factory outlet

- Emptying our chemical toilet

This is increasingly becoming a problem. After two days of parking freely without disposal options, one must look out. And that proves to be the next problem. In Bonn, there is no parking space with disposal. Ultimately, we head to the Bonn waste disposal facilities. Here, one is supposed to get rid of their chemical toilet. This works out after a bit of waiting.

The thought of changing the RV toilet is slowly maturing.

With more than a 2-hour delay, we finally leave the federal city.

To avoid losing more time, we venture onto the highway and head northward, away from the Rhine.

Where will we end up?

I would appreciate tips in the comments.

You will find out in the next report.