edited by Robert and Elisa

We have departed from Bergamo with a flight low cost direct to Colony. Here we have rented a car, with navigator in Italian, and there are direct toward Essen to assist to the marriage of our cousin. The following day the return flight in Italy always departed from Colony, but in late evening, for which we have taken advantage for visiting Aachen. The voice of our navigator has brought us without any difficulty to our destination. Aachen is a town of about 250.000 inhabitants, the outskirts is very verdant and constituted by low cottages, while in the historical center the buildings in style are more imposing. We find us in the western extremity of Germany, almost on the

border with Belgium. The inhabitants speak the whole German or Flemish, the English is almost unknown. After having parked the car in one of the so many parking lot to payment of the center, we direct there toward the principal plaza. Here we admire the building of the town hall and the different buildings in ancient style that lean out on the great plaza, it strikes us to see the small tables of the cafes and the motley ice-cream shops that give a relief to the tired tourists. We cross the principal road, rich of shops of typical products, and we reach the Cathedral wanted by Charles Magno, where for half century the German Kaisers were crowned. The building has been declared World Patrimony of the humanity from the UNESCO and it is for a long time one of the principal places of cult of Germany.

Today to its inside rest the ashes of the Great Emperor. The best period to visit this town is the spring, in general the climate is not harsh as in the most greater part of the German territory. Also for this motive the emperor Charles Magno was well prepared to sojourn you. Since the most ancient times Aquisgrana (ancient name of the town of Aachen), it is a famous thermal center, in itsr thermal centers it can be relaxed us and to identify with the emperor Charles Magno wound by the watery vapor. After being us regenerated with a beautiful thermal bath, it is absolutely had to satisfy our own palate tasting a some dishes typical of the German cuisine. Here one of the daintiest specialties are the biscuits to the honey covered of chocolate.

The trip to Aachen has been very pleasant even if we have found its inhabitants some cool, above all the owners and the waiters of the so many inns of the center. We have also had to discuss with two or three of these characters, because after being sits us to a small table to the open one and to have ordered to drink, have eaten of the chips and of the sandwiches that we had with us, there has been no anything to do they have made us lift and they have not brought us to drink, we didn't accept that we ate something that was not prepared from them. The rudeness of these people has us very amazed, they should perhaps learn from Italian as treats the tourist.

After having spent a few times to walk for Aachen doesn't remain us that to take bake the car and to plan the navigator, destination airport of Colony, where unfortunately the airplane waits that the time doesn't see to bring us to Bergamo.