Well there goes the stereotype.

Fi and I decided to go to Cologne for the first part of the Xmas break. After a long prolonged evening hauling suitcases on and off the Paris metro we head for the international bus station to catch the night bus to Cologne.

It was as stereotypically Christmassy as we had hoped. There were at least seven differently themes Christmas markets spread across the city centre to choose from. They felt like the real deal, not quite as tacky as the French versions I visited before. In my eyes, German cuisine is the best at this time of year. Hearty, meaty dishes that fill you and keep you warm in the snow. However, French markets tend to miss that out and replace it with their own crepes and gaufres, which doesn't quite do it. So it was a relief to get some Bratwurst and Currywurst for once. Anyway, we really made the most of the market from day one.

It was snowy and hellishly cold come evening time. So as the sky darkened we headed to the Brauhauses that were on offer around the town. We sampled much of the local brew called 'kolsch'. It was so good that we had to try glass after glass after glass. So, yes we stayed up late, got pished, made friends with some locals and discovered that the Germans can drink any Scot under the table. The next day I felt like I had three migraines rolled into one. Great Night.