Well we survived the train ride from Basel, but cyclists take note…the bicycle coach is at one end of the train and first class seats are at the other…and the trains are VERY LONG! After we parked our bikes in their spot, we had to walk through 14 coaches which probably took 15 minutes(?). These ICE (intercity express) trains are amazing as they can travel at speeds up to 300 km/hr!

The city of Essen has a very long pedestrian shopping zone which was already decorated with many Christmas lights. There were dozens of kebab restaurants so that’s what we did for dinner. The street was packed with people and kids, many dressed up in costume for Halloween night. The almost full moon made an appearance for the occasion as well.