The main event

Park run Cologne with Michelle, Elaine, Adele, Catherine, Jeremy, Julie, Gordon and Yvonne. Joy. Homemade cake and biscuits at the finish. Beautiful park and along the Rhine. Rheinpark.
Back to hotel, coffee and shower.
Tram to old town for breakfast/lunch in a bakery.
Little tourist train around the landmarks and old town area, had to stop at cathedral due to road closures for the visiting Italian president. Cologne has the largest settlement of Italians (outside of Italy) in Europe.
Some of the group went to find beer, some went to the chocolate museum and some came with me to see the Basilica St Geron to see the mosaic floors in the crypt and amazing domed ceiling from the 11th century. 
Gasping for, beer, toilet and sit down, the place we'd pinpointed had closed for a function, so we walked back to the old town Heaumarkt for all three and Italian food at the XII Apostles hostelry! Much laughter with Daniel the Waiter and a plan formed for a kolsch kranz Chelmsford parkrun and cricket bonanza next summer.  We'd consumed wine and beer and stopped for snacks before returning on the tram back to the hotel, with Gordon renaming us all with names he could remember! Amaretto, more laughter and a trex impression before bed!