The River Rhine through Düsseldorf is wide, fast-flowing and busy with traffic.
On a warm day, even with the wind blowing briskly, it is pleasant to sit on the old town steps leading down to the river, and simply watch the world go by.
NOTE: The Kirmes fairground sits on the far bank.
Charlemagne became King of the Franks in Noyon on 9th October 768, and Emperor in Rome on 25th December 800 - but Aachen was closest to his heart and would remain the capital of his Holy Roman Empire.
Most of his bones now rest in this gold box in the gothic choir of Aachen's cathedral.
It took Phespirit about fifty minutes to stroll from Mönchengladbach Hauptbahnhof - the central station - down to Schloss Rheydt.
With a couple of museums, fine surrounds, a moat and some peacocks, it's the best of Mönchengladbach's limited sights.
