n May 2002 Korina and I made a weekend visit to Düsseldorf to see a firework display whilst cruising on the Rhine. It was an all inclusive package which I booked, which included the tickets for the boat cruise along the Rhine, Hotel accommodation for 2 nights at the City's 5* Hilton hotel, and train tickets on the ICE from Munich Hauptbahnof to Düsseldorf Hauptbahnof. I have always wanted to visit Düsseldorf ever since watching the British Television Comedy Drama Auf Wiedersehen Pet. If you have never seen the programme, the original series was made in the early 1980's during Thatcher's high unemployed Britain, and was about a group of British Bricklayers whom had to go to work in Germany, to find employment (basically they were contractor's). Well the City where the series was set, was Düsseldorf! Although most of the scenes in the show were actually filmed in Hamburg. Anyway, it is one of my most favourite TV show's ever, and so I have always wanted to follow in their footsteps, and now I have... firstly contracting in Germany, then visiting Düsseldorf!

Königsallee (the "Kö"): One of the world's most elegant shopping boulevards and the Cathedral of Düsseldorf

The funny story about the Königsallee is how it got its name. It used to be called "Kastanienallee" (Chestnut Alley), named after the trees along the canal in the middle of the street. Then some king came to visit Düsseldorf and he obviously wasn't really popular. The people threw horse poo at him. After that event the city of Düsseldorf needed a sign to show how sorry they were and they named the street "Königsallee" (King's alley)
 

Strolling down the Kö you will see at the Königsallee-Bridge with a huge and impressive statue of Triton hunting fish
 

Combining the legendary good cheer of the Rhineland with the cosmopolitan charm of an international exhibition city, Düsseldorf offers the visitor a wealth of memorable sights and experiences. Eighteen museums, the German Opera House, countless theatres large and small and numerous other attractions all attest to the city's standing as a major arts centre. Düsseldorf is also a paradise for shoppers - the Königsallee with its classy shops and pavement cafés is now firmly established as the unofficial public catwalk for the latest fashion trends.

The Mammoth Monument & St. Lambert’s church

St Lamberts was built in the 1200s and was reconstructed in 1394. It is famous for its twisted spire... according to legend, the tower was built while the wood was wet and as the wood dried, its shape changed. I don't know how much of that story is true but it looks funny, anyway! Also it is said that the tower will be straight again as soon as a virgin gets married in the church....
 

The Palace Tower `Schlossturm` at Burgplatz

The Stadterhebungs commemorates the Battle of Worringen in 1288. On August 14th 1288 the sovereign, Count Adolf V von Berg, granted the village on the banks of the D?ssel the right to call itself a city. Prior to that a bloody power struggle between the powerful Archbishop of Cologne and the Berg nobility had taken place, culminating in this battle. The detail in this art work is amazing as it tells the story of Dusseldorf.

Markplatz, in the heart of the Altstadt, is where you'll find the Town Hall. Built in 1573,it still looks much the same as the day it was erected. and is part of a larger complex which includes the Grupello House and other administrative buildings. In the middle of the square is the Statue of Prince Jan Wellem on Horseback. Very characteristic square and the scene of much joviality when its carnival season.

The Rathaus is one of the most charismatic buildings in the Altstadt. It was built in the XVI century, but it has been so remodelled in the course of its existence that few original elements have remained as they were conceived. However, the facade retains the original Renaissance style with Dutch influence.
 

The 234m tall (768 ft) Rheinturm (Rhine tower), built from 1979 to 1981, is Düsseldorf's TV tower. It’s also the city’s tallest building and provides the best views of the city and its surroundings; I've actually been told that on a clear day it’s possible to the see the cathedral in Cologne. An elevator travelling with the speed of 4 m/second will take you up. At the top of the tower there’s a nice but pretty expensive restaurant, which during opening hours revolves around the axis of the tower. One lap is completed in an hour, thus the speed is not overwhelming! Below the restaurant there’s an open viewing platform (good for photographs...) and a cafeteria.

Another popular feature of the Rheinturm is the digital clock along the shaft of the tower. It was designed and developed by a light artist named Horst Baumann, and supposedly it’s the largest digital clock in the world. The time is displayed by lit and blinking lamps at the shaft of the tower. It does take a while to be able to work out how it works though, and so most people don't bother!
 

The clock tower on the Rhein Promenade

Robert & Korina walking along the Rhine Promenade, which is situated between the Rheinturm and Burgplatz

The Altstadt is especially worth seeing in late summer afternoons when it is full of people who have their after-work Altbier and meeting place for young and old. "Bolkerstraße" is the central bar street where you'll find a variety of international bars, restaurants, and snack bars.
 

The mighty Rhine is one of Europe’s major arteries. It flows from the North Sea to the Alps, from Holland through France and Germany to Switzerland.
 

Robert & Korina on the cruise down the River Rhine

There are three bridges crossing the Rhine in the centre of Düsseldorf, Rheinkniebrücke, Oberkasseler Brücke and Theodor-Heuss-Brücke. All of them look almost alike which makes a nice view down the Rhine.

When Oberkasseler Brücke was built it was actually built 50 metres from its location today because the old bridge was only destroyed afterwards. Then they moved the bridge over to it's location today on rail tracks.
 

We start of on our cruise at sunset, we firstly sailed northward up the Rhine for approximately 5 miles or so, before turning around and returning back down to Oberkassel, where the hot air balloon  and firework display was held

99 kind of red balloons...

Ballonglühnen in Oberkassel am Rhein

The light goes out on the night...

Robert & Korina in the gardens outside the modern art museum K21 im Ständehaus

An old house full of modern art. There's mostly very modern stuff like video installations etc here. The Ständehaus used to host the parliament of Northrhine Westphalia before the new "Landtag" was built next to the Rheinturm. There's also a very stylish bar inside and if the weather's nice there's a nice beergarden behind the building.
 

Having an Altbier in the Altstadt

Auf Wiedersehen Pet... The Hauptbahnof

Auf Wiedersehen Pet

All photographs were taken in Dusseldorf - Germany from the 24th to 26th of May 2002.