Virginia took me to Waterbeach station, and I caught the 7.57am train to Kings Cross. 1st class didn't seem too different to 2nd class, but I at least got a seat and room for my larger case. I then navigated to St Pancras and found reaching the Eurostar train rather like reaching the airplane for a flight - check-in and baggage and passport control queues to wait one's way through. I worried about losing the magic sheet of paper for the eTicket from Deutsche Bahn.

Crowded in the waiting room, at least a stampede for a Disneyworld train left some seats spare. First class in the Eurostar was very comfortable, quiet, not crowded, breakfast included (albeit lunchtime). We stopped at Ebbsfleet and then I assume went through the Channel Tunnel with no fanfare. Strong rain lashed the train, raindrops crawled horizontally along the windows. An easy train change at Brussels Midi station, though carriage 29 was not covered from the rain! On the ICE train the carriages each had a carriage number on a digital display, at first I though each carriage was numbered 2!

The ICE train had quiet compartments, I should have decamped to one as I found I was sitting close to a whimpering child. The journey passed anyway. We arrived at Cologne Hauptbahnhof at the appointed hour, and I found my way to the Hotel Berg where I was residing. Large door key which one left on leaving the hotel. I had something edible at the station Macdonalds, with flies for company, got postcards done, verified phone and Wi-Fi access worked.