More old bags discarded

It must be that Back to School feeling. More old travelling bags thrown out. My old makeup bag was so shabby I'm ashamed to post a picture.
The replacement from Primark (blue and white striped) is good enough even for this incredibly swish hotel room in Madrid.  The top bag is also from Primark - for phone leads and charger. (Very organised).  Great cheap buys - why spend more?! Like the zebra zipper bag here.

Escape

Woke up in the heat and googled 'closest coast to London'. Am not sure if Whitstable is the closest but it's only an hour and a half on the train and is the real seaside.
A relief to get out of London.

A good breakfast for a traveller

On the go - croissants seem too large and greasy - and instant microwaveable porridge inedible. So this seems an excellent breakfast. Though  may have overdone the salt....
A lovely morning on the Thames.

Out with the old

You don't really see objects you carry around every day. My rose purse is suddenly so shabby it has to be thrown away. How did I not notice before?  I've used it every day for 14 months. A bright replacement from a discount suitcase shop in Hammersmith.

Spring on the pavements in Aachen

A cold sleety day for an Aachen pilgrimage - but a breath of spring at a florist near the Cathedral.

Den Bosch pink

Trip to Cologne, Aachen and Den Bosch

A trip to two cathedrals and what's described by the Guardian as the 'show of the century' - so far.
Starting with Cologne Cathedral which is stunningly close to the station. Dizzying black towers. Inside the light is very bright. Some of the stained glass was salvaged from the bombing.
It's a place of pilgrimage for anyone interested in German history and for devout Catholics as well. The remains of the Three Kings are here.
And ....  who would have thought it? Eau de Cologne actually comes from Cologne, the original created by an Italian in 1709.