The first night of our journey was spent in Freiburg which is in the heart of the black forest - somehow I pictured that there would be more trees! We saw the Cathedral there which was very nice and then mostly slept.
The next day we headed for Koln and the walk to the information post was not nearly as long. We found a little hotel and it was located nice but it really was a crappy little (tiny) room was a tv that didn't work and too much noise. We were there two nights and I checked e-mail at the front desk but that was it for internet.
In Koln we went to the museum for applied arts and asked if they had anything that looked like the pictures in my binder - they thought the other musuem would have them but they were closed until October. They directed me to the library and the librarian was very helpful and got me some books and then sent me to another library where they got me more books. There was nothing overly helpful though.
Today we got up and packed and headed for the trainstation. Mom sat with the bags while I went across the street and explored the Cathedral Treasury - they have finds from a set of 5th century Frankish graves and lots of relics but most of the items were very late for my interest. When I finished there we got on the train to Mechelen. It was a long train and then another train and a bus and the Information station was already closed but we found a Holiday Inn Express that had a room for tonight. We then found another hotel for tomorrow and they helped us find the museum which is right around the corner from their hotel! She was a little embarrassed to see that.
So tomorrow I get to see the Mecca of flower shrines.
I'm so excited!