A day in Auchen to Sightsee and Shop - Riding In My Grandfather's WW1 Footsteps - CycleBlaze

June 30, 2016

A day in Auchen to Sightsee and Shop

We were pleased to find Aachen Camping just a few km from the centre of old town...and what a bargain. It only costs 10 euros, includes wifi and showers are 1 euro each.

The only problem was that when we arrived, a group of motorcyclists from Britain had just set up their tents. They were a fearsome looking group and their rigs looked like something out of Mad Max, Road Warrior. We spoke to the attendant and he offered us a special spot with our own table and surrounded by hedges. It was like our own secret garden.

People often call our tandem recumbent and trailer set up "a big rig", but these are big rigs with attitude!
Heart 1 Comment 1
Charmaine RuppoltWow, those motorcycles even have pipes extending from them!
Reply to this comment
1 year ago

These guys must have loved the Mad Max movies.

Heart 0 Comment 0
Strangely (or fittingly), the driver of this bike looked like the skeletal image.
Heart 0 Comment 0

The weather is not very good. The winds are strong and it has rained pretty consistently, but we are committed to camping while we are here.

We are going to ride in to town today and do a bit of sightseeing as well as shop for a few things we need. We plan to stay here for 2 nights before heading off to Maastricht, Holland.

Nobis Bakery is very popular here. It seems like there is one on most street corners. It was a good place for lunch.
Heart 0 Comment 0
Tartare open faced sandwich is very popular.
Heart 0 Comment 0
Nobis Bakeries are also known for their gingerbread cookies and cakes - some of their stores sell only these specialty items.
Heart 1 Comment 0
Aachen's old town has many bronze sculptures and fountains.
Heart 0 Comment 0
The Dom is a highlight and worth a visit.
Heart 0 Comment 0
The mosaic ceilings in the Dom are exquisite.
Heart 1 Comment 0
Heart 0 Comment 0
Heart 0 Comment 0
Heart 0 Comment 0
Heart 0 Comment 0
Heart 0 Comment 0
This she-wolf statue from Roman times is in the entrance foyer of the Dom and its paw has been stroked often for luck.
Heart 0 Comment 0
This kid has attitude!
Heart 0 Comment 0
We found this Outdoor shop as we needed a few things for camping. We like our Deuter bag better.
Heart 0 Comment 0
Heart 0 Comment 0
Charlemagne, an important figure who united Europe in the 800's. He resided in Aachen and his remains are housed in the Aachen Dom.
Heart 0 Comment 0
Heart 0 Comment 0
Another interactive fountain with moving parts.
Heart 1 Comment 1
Charmaine RuppoltThose fountains with the moving parts are very unique!
Reply to this comment
1 year ago
The city hall was covered in interesting stone carvings.
Heart 1 Comment 0
A model of Aachen city hall
Heart 0 Comment 0
Shoes on a woman from one of the fountains in Aachen
Heart 0 Comment 0
The owner of the shoes
Heart 0 Comment 0
We are not sure why this man has coins on his eyes.
Heart 0 Comment 0
Heart 0 Comment 0
Pugs are called "mups" in Germany and are very popular.
Heart 1 Comment 0
We are seeing these signs in many windows, on buttons, etc. We finally found out what it means. People in Aachen are very concerned about nuclear plants in their neighbouring countries of Belgium and France. Germany has committed to the eradication of nuclear plants, but this is not the case in Belgium. An aging plant a few miles away in Belgium is cause for concern.
Heart 0 Comment 0
Heart 0 Comment 0
It was fascinating to watch this little boy mimic the fountain's figure.
Heart 1 Comment 0
These characters' faces were so expressive and conveyed much emotion.
Heart 1 Comment 0
Heart 0 Comment 0

Today's ride: 12 km (7 miles)
Total: 500 km (311 miles)

Rate this entry's writing Heart 1
Comment on this entry Comment 0