Bremen; Monday, 23 May, 2005

Monday's in continental Europe need planning. I'm sure if you've read any other entries you have seen my experiences of finding things to do on a European Monday, especially in Germany. Today was going to be different, because I had put off to today all those things that claimed they were open on Monday's!

First stop of the morning was the statue of Bremen's most famous non-visitors, the musicians of Bremen, the cockerel, cat, dog and donkey of the children's fairy tale. This also forms the starting point for a marked walk that Bremen Tourism have devised.

Next stop was the cathedral, St. Petri's. As well as the spectacular building there is also the treasury museum, the 263 stepped tower and the Lead Cellar - where bodies buried within have been completely preserved and are now on (morbid) view to the public.

I carried on following the walking tour, which takes in all the main sights and museums (as it was Monday they were all closed) of the city centre. Then it was on to the tram and out into the suburbs to the botanical gardens.

Originally started as a rhododendron park this massive site now also includes 'botanica' a green science museum and greenhouses of some of their more spectacular specimens.

The park itself is huge, I spent over three hours wandering around it, and don't think I saw it all. In late May it was especially nice as all the rhododendrons were in full bloom and scent.

After several hours at the park I wandered (or more closely staggered as my feet were sore!) back to the tram stop for the tram back to the hotel for a well earned rest and then dinner