Cologne, Germany

Sadly our tip is winding down. On Day 14 we dock in Cologne – Germany’s fourth largest city with one million inhabitants. 95% of the city was eliminated by ferocious allied bombing which means most of what we see was built in the last 70-years. The allies launched 262 separate air raids. As if by divine intervention the sole building remaining was the Cologne Cathedral that dominates the horizon from miles away.  It attracts 20,000 visitors a day so we were not alone as we strolled around and inside this UNESCO site. Construction began in 1248 and was halted in 1473, leaving it unfinished. Work restarted in the 19th century and was completed, to the original plan, in 1880. Its twin towers are 515 feet tall making it the largest Gothic church in Northern Europe. They spend 7 million euro a year (over $8 U.S. dollars) on renovations with 60 craftsman working daily. It is an “eternal building site”.  We were impressed in particular with the spectacular stained glass windows. The sun was shining thru the window with the 3 Magi, and it just came to life. It would be hard to find something more beautiful.

It’s a Sunday and the streets are clogged with families, street performers and tourists. The boardwalk along the Rhine offers great views up and down the river. We visited an excellent Roman museum to get a feel for the city’s history and were rewarded with hundreds of sculptures, jewelry, glassware, mosaic tiles, and much more. Beneath the streets of Cologne are Roman ruins yet to be discovered. The ‘home’ of Eau de Cologne, we were able to peek in the beautiful windows of Farina, which was established in 1709 as the first "cologne" used by emperors, kings, queens, composers, etc. to mask their "body scent" as many did not bathe at the time or wash their clothes as they believed too much contact with water on their skin would make them sick (we also learned that the women and men wore very ornate, tiny flea traps inside their clothes as they were infested with fleas). The eighth generation is still bringing the beautiful scent to the world.  4711 is another company that is bringing in the tourists as a perfume and cologne competitor.

The Captain’s toast and dinner was lovely tonight. A special menu was provided with five courses to tempt us, and yummy chocolate dessert to top it off. After dinner we were blessed to hear the Sound of Europe in the lounge. Three young people performed, cello, clarinet and piano playing upbeat classical music. The clarinetist just happened to be from Alabama and his performance was simply amazing. From morning till bedtime our time in Cologne was delightful.

 The Cologne Cathedral as seen from the Rhine.

Cologne Cathedral- Largest cathedral in Northern Europe. A Gothic masterpiece begun in the 13th century. Cannot possible capture the entire massive Cathedral without a fish eye lens- 157 m tall and double in width.

People on the plaza look like tiny ants next to this massive cathedral!

Flying buttresses, arches, spires- architectural splendor!

Gargoyles!

 Many gorgeous stained glass windows

 Stained glass reflected onto the pillars inside the cathedral

More light from the stained glass reflected onto the walls and pillars of the Cathedral

The original Farina store where Eau de Cologne was "invented" by the Farina family.

Site where JFK gave his speech during the Cold War

A lot of people hanging out in the Cathedral Square. Saw several toddlers riding these wooden balance bikes (no pedals). This little girl reminded me of Emma!

Chalk artist on the square

The Elf Statue- Legend has it that long ago, people in the city were quite lazy. There were little elves that came out at night and did all the work for the townspeople. But no one could ever see them, they were so secretive. But a curious woman decided she was going to see them, so she spread peas out on the steps. The little elves slipped on the peas and fell down the steps. They were so angry, they left and never came back and from then on, the townspeople had to do their own work.

Roman mask from the Roman ruins excavated in Cologne on display at the Cologne Museum of Roman Antiquities

 Musicians in the Cathedral Square