Waffle ASAP, Train Late, After 2 Days Finally Arrive in Cologne...Guten Tag Baby! (Brussels, Belgium)

Waffle at Brussels Midi Train Station

We arrived in Brussels at 9:30 instead of 6:30, which meant more fellow passengers to share the queue for passport control.   When the cute passport control guy asked how long I was in Belgium and I told him I was jumping on a train for Cologne…he seems genuinely sad that someone would pass through like that.  I reaffirmed my love for Belgium by telling him I would be back through as I had to have a beer and a waffle.

I think I am just meant to be delayed on this trip as the luggage took a good hour as well.  My pack on my back I grabbed a coffee and headed down to the train….I was able to book my ticket all the way to Cologne right from the airport…very cool.  Trains from Brussels to Cologne leave about every three hours so I would be stuck at Brussels Midi for a couple hours but I assumed that would be the case….time for a waffle and another coffee right?

Sad Face cuz train 43 minutes late

Waffle check, coffee check…. two hours later off to the platform…where I see that my train in running 43 minutes late…. sad face…. nowhere to sit so I grab a piece of floor, put some tunes on and wait. 

I figure I might be able to gab a nap on the train but there is a baby screaming behind me most of the trip (not crying…screaming).  Even the headphones were of little help.

Hop off the train in Cologne and thankfully went out the wrong door first.  The Cathedral is right outside the Dom exit of the station…. it is absolutely breathtaking.  Happy travel thoughts run through my head as I head out the other side to where I should find my hotel quickly as it is very close to the station.

Yep, the hotel’s directions are crisp and clear and I am there in 5 minutes.  It appears to be a sleepy little street so hopefully I can keep the window open, as it is super hot in Europe right now. 

I don’t really check anything out and it is now about 5pm and I am pretty well done in.  Some food and sleep are all that happen for the rest of the day.  After all those delays this girl is thrilled to finally be in Germany; a country I have passed through many times, done night layovers in but until now could not check it off my list.  Guten Tag Germany.