Saturday was the annual Rhine in Flames festival along part of the Rhein, with one part starting in Linz and ending in Bonn. The best way to describe it is a mini festival, with a couple of stages with mainly local bands playing, beer stands, a fairground, then a huge and very impressive firework display at the end.
Not really sure of the idea behind it. You can take boat trips from where the event starts and then travel down the river watching all of the firework displays (each of 5 or 6 towns along the river have their own). Its held in a big park on the river in Bonn, and the atmosphere is fantastic, although it is very popular and the great weather meant that it was packed. There are also similar events later on in the year further up the river.
I cant find a decent link to any info about it, apart from the german Wikipedia article
Here
Then yesterday i spent the whole day in Bonn. ive been living in Cologne for over 6 months and it was the first time ive been during the day. its only 20 minutes by train, but never had the chance to visit.
But its a really nice city. it quite small, a population of maybe 300,000, but still a lot to do. It was the capital of West Germany from 1949-1990, i presume because its non-industrial past meant it avioded significant damage during the war. So unlike most German cities, its hasnt been completely rebuilt in the last 50 years and has a bit more character.
Bonn is the birthplace of Beethoven, so the house where he was born has been converted into a museum of his life and work.
There is also a really good Museum of Contemporary German History, which is an interesting look at German history from 1945. Its free entry, and i think everything is in English as well, or at least you can get an English guide book.
I will try and post a few pictures later when i get home from work
Just thought i would try point out that theres more to Germany than just Berlin and Oktoberfest in Munich!