March 2026. Bonn. Germany.
More highlights from our half day in Bonn, which seems to have stolen the Pied Piper from Hamelin for its pedestrian crossing.
Apart from schnitzel and a beer, the essential activity in Bonn is a visit to Haus der Geschichte Bonn, 10 minutes south of the station by tram or underground (James walked it in 20).
I’d taken James here in 2015 and thought this free museum of post-war Germany a world classic. It’s got even better since. The political cartoons at the start set the tone,
and then you’re taking on a winding tour through reconstruction and the reality of coming to terms with the Nazi past, before a less traumatic section on culture.
That cinema is the point where a gentle German said “20 centimetres”, indicating how close I could get to the glass. He seemed delighted I’d come back to Bonn, more so that our two lads were actually spending more time than us on the exhibits.
I’d got past Arsenal (the LGBTQ+ section),
and the ’80s aerobic fixation (one for Lana there),
while the boys were still in 1956 and the German industrial miracle. Yes, Matt spent ninety (90) minutes in a German political history museum. For context, Ron Pattinson ticked off eight Bonn pubs in an hour.
It’s a classy museum, right down to the luxury loo paper.
But where was the other ’50s miracle ?
And where was Nicole, whose 1982 Eurovision winner was arguably the catalyst for world peace and German reunification ?
Yes, of course I bought the album, the same month as New Order’s “Temptation” and “Reality Asylum” by Crass. I was 17.
Just then, Mrs RM messaged me.
“Where are you all ? I’ve been finished half an hour. Oh, and I’ve found Nicole by the washing machine.”.
Why (oh why) can’t young people dress so demurely in 2026 ?
retiredmartin 