Bonn Apetit

The first thing to note is that we were welcomed to Bonn as VIPs... 

The second thing to note is the title of this blog, Bonn Apetit. Bonn maintained the very high food standard we have come to expect in Germany, and in some areas lifted the bar higher - the best pizza we have had in Europe, and the most spectacular ice-cream treat we have ever seen. That was actually accidentally ordered. On the menu it looked like a reasonably sized portion, in fact a healthy option with all that fruit:

However, the sheer size of the treat was not apparent until it arrived, leaving Mary with a significant challenge.. 

Bonn is bike friendly, so what better way to get a feel for the area than cycle to, along, and across the Rhine. 

After parking the bikes, we strolled to a central square for the obligatory Beethoven photo. 

The next day we decided to explore Bonn's museum/arts precinct. 

We expected architecture, art and history. We did not expect ping pong, basketball and exercise balls! Bring on the Heilen Games! 

Probably a good thing, to balance out the food experiences... 

Bonn used to be the capital of West Germany and the history since the 2nd World War is both fascinating and arguably representative of the changes experienced by many countries in the 2nd half of the 20th Century. The Museum of German History traced this history, and pulled no punches - the section on the 2nd World War included the most shocking pictures of the holocaust I have ever seen, including the ones we saw in the concentration camp in Poland. No hiding of history here, and a complete absence of excuses. 

What I found equally moving, if you'll pardon the pun, was the display detailing the Berlin airlift, housed inside a section of fuselage of one of the planes involved. 

As well as the essentials, the airlift included treats for children, including raisins. For this reason the locals called them 'raisin planes', and someone duly made a model plane covered with raisins which is preserved in the museum. 

Taken out of context it sounds silly. Taken in the context of the very serious geopolitical drama of the time it's a different story. 

All in all a sobering yet enjoyable visit. 

Having covered off history, our next challenge is to be art and culture...