by Sayed Musaddiq, Gerhard Schneibel and Gabriel Domninguez

On a hot summer’s day, the Rhein river tempts IMS students to its banks. Although the city has three bridges, a striking number of ferries are in service to shuttle people and cars across the river. At times, the Rhein can be packed with ferries, pleasure boats and cargo barges.

While the ferry may seem old fashioned, it is also a fully-functional form of public transportation.

Nothing’s free in this world…

But the view from the center of the river is well worth the fare of 70 euro cents.

And while Bonn’s ferries operate daily in the summer months, the city occasionally also gets visits from other unusual vessels.

The ride lasts less than 10 minutes, but if the weather is right it feels like a brief vacation.

All good things come to an end, and when the ferry grinds against the iron pylons of the dock, the vacation is over.
Then it’s best for any IMS student to stop and ask themselves: “What was that thing I was supposed to do?”