Düsseldorf - Day 10
Last December, I visited Melatenfriedhof with my sister and thought it was absolutely beautiful—but I had no idea there was a grave site featuring a full-on Grim Reaper statue! So, I had to come back and see it for myself. This time, I made sure to wander around and catch all the highlights we missed before. The biggest surprise, though, was something I totally overlooked the first time—a candle vending machine! For just four euros, you get a candle and matches. Caitlin was so obsessed with it that she ended up buying two.
On our way to Düsseldorf, of course Pearl—the ever-demanding electric car—started giving us trouble again and needed another charge. So, naturally, we made the best of it with our now-traditional Kaffee und Kuchen break. But this is where the day took an unexpected turn. Some unforeseen events popped up, and we had to switch gears and make new plans on the fly. Caitlin took over as planner and decided we should visit the Botanischer Garten Düsseldorf. I can only imagine how stunning it must be in spring and summer, but even in the off-season, it was a lovely surprise. The garden was peaceful, the walk was refreshing, and it ended up being the perfect little detour.
Maybe it’s just a generational thing, but every time I hear Magic Mountain, my brain instantly jumps to Charlie the Unicorn and Candy Mountain. Anyway, our second stop of the day was Tiger & Turtle Magic Mountain—a spot that’s part sculpture, part industrial park, and honestly, a little confusing at first.
But before we even got there, I experienced my first true moment of German shame. I accidentally pulled a bit too far up at a stoplight, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw this elderly man sitting outside his house with his little dog, just shaking his head in pure disappointment. I swear, he might’ve even wagged his finger at me. Nothing like a stern look from a German grandpa to put you in your place.
Once we got to Magic Mountain, things didn’t get less weird. We couldn’t quite figure out where to go, and neither could a few other people wandering around. So, in a moment of questionable logic, I decided to follow some random older German men into the woods—with Caitlin trailing behind me. Sounds like the start of a horror movie, right? Thankfully, it ended well, because here I am telling the story.
Turns out, we accidentally found a shortcut through some brambles that led us straight to the sculpture. It’s basically a walkable rollercoaster—a looping metal track for pedestrians that looks wild against the skyline. It was actually really cool to explore, though I did make Caitlin climb higher than she was comfortable with. The look on her face said it all.
Whaddya know—Pearl needed another charge. Shocking, I know. At this point, it’s practically a running joke. But on the bright side, that meant another excuse to find a coffee shop so Caitlin could get her beloved Eiskaffee.
While Pearl was plugged in doing her thing, we decided to wander around a bit and ended up stumbling upon Kaiserpfalz Kaiserswerth. It was such a pleasant surprise—beautiful old ruins right by the Rhine, full of history and charm. We snapped a ton of photos, enjoyed the quiet walk, and honestly, it was the perfect little break from both driving and charging drama. Sometimes those unplanned detours turn out to be the best parts of the day.
Look—a real hotel! After days of hostels, Airbnbs, and endless car charging stops, Caitlin went all out and booked us a Hilton just outside of Frankfurt. It felt like pure luxury—beautiful, comfy, and surprisingly affordable.
We decided to end the night in style with a fancy dinner at The Hidden Restaurant, which definitely lived up to its name and vibe. The food was amazing, the atmosphere was perfect, and it was such a nice change of pace from our usual grab-and-go meals.
Back in the room, we kept the fun going with a round of Barbie Uno and some “Pee Wine”—a bottle of Henkell that cost us exactly one euro, the same price it costs to use a restroom in Germany.
