January 15 is ‘Blue Monday’ – the day people in the northern hemisphere feel most depressed after the end of the Christmas festivities and during the dull grey days of midwinter. Here are 10 ways you can beat the winter blues in the Rhineland:
Bored? Try a board game! There’s never been a better time to dust off your childhood games and have an old fashioned games night. Scrabble is always a winner. Monopoly will keep you going for hours, days even. But if you feel like something a bit more strategic try ‘Ticket to Ride’ or ‘Zug um … Continue reading Play it again, and again
You know you’ve become integrated into German society when you start watching Tatort religiously every Sunday. Some people love it, others hate it. If you’re not a Tatort fan, here are some reasons why you should become one: Tatort (which means crime scene) is a German detective show that’s been running since November 1970 and … Continue reading It’s Tatort time
While away the winter days and nights with some books about your local area: A little town in Germany This spy thriller is set in a Bonn that’s long gone. Where once there was espionage, Cold War dirty dealings, embassies and consulates, and spies lurking around every corner, there's now a sleepy city of culture … Continue reading Books about your city
Moving to a new city is equally exciting and anxiety-inducing.
Liam Heitmann-Rice shares some tips to make it easier.
Ever been shouted at by a pensioner for crossing the road when the pedestrian light was red? Or worse still, had a kid wag their finger at you for crossing before the green man showed? In Germany there are two reasons why you don’t cross on red. The first can be hard for foreigners to … Continue reading The red rule
Ever felt like climbing a tree, walking around in the green canopy and seeing the world from up above? If you''re not afraid of heights you can do just that and more at the Hochseilgarten Kramerhof. Featuring tree top walkways, abseiling, climbing, treetop obstacle courses, tightrope walking and rope swings - this is an absolute … Continue reading Take to the trees
You don’t need a De Lorean to go back in time when you’ve got a freilichtmuseum. These are open-air-museums where you can experience first-hand how locals lived in the past. There are two near to Cologne, the Freilichtmuseum Kommern in the Eifel, which is huge and needs a full day to do it justice. Or … Continue reading Freilichtmuseum Lindlar
Netflix and chill is all well and good, but going to the cinema is better. Especially when that cinema is the Residenz in Cologne and you’re welcomed with a glass of champagne and finger food and can sink into a plush armchair with your feet on a velvet foot rest. The Residenz is no ordinary … Continue reading Ritzy cinema at the Residenz
Picture this: a gorgeous sunny day, green hills, trees, a crystal clear lake and white sandy beaches. Out on the lake there’s a floating island where you can sun yourself before slipping back into the cool water to swim back to shore. Sound like a summer camp in the US, or a lake in Bayern … Continue reading Freibad Vingst
Settling into a new country or city isn't always easy. It generally starts off well: every day feels like a holiday; all those funny and strange things you experience in your new city are welcomed as quirky and unsual; and everything seems fresh and exciting. But after a while, things can start to take a … Continue reading Getting over culture shock
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