Day #6: Koln (Cologne)

 

.....and, I finally have consistent wifi! Granted, it's in the lounge in Philadelphia, but I've got time and I've got wifi! Day #6 was Cologne, the biggest city we had visited so far. 

Those who have been to bigger European cities already know this, but the bicyclists are dangerous! I give everyone who cycles credit - they're way healthier than me. But....those of us from CLT know the cyclists on the booty loop and Queens Rd West stop for no one. Think of it that way - on steroids. 

If you zoom in on the white / iron railing, you'll see lots and lots of love locks. I asked the tour guide if they were having the same problem they did in Paris - the weight of the locks became too much for the bridge and they had to remove them. He laughed and answered "These bridges were built by German engineers. It's not a problem." 

St Michaels, the second largest church in the region. It became a running joke during the cruise - if the building had a clock on the face, it was a church. No clock? Castle. Regardless of the type of building, they were all beautiful. The amount of craftsmanship and effort that goes into building is amazing. We don't do that here in America, it's sad. 

It's me, it's me!  :)

More of the church. 

See the pulley at the top? A lot of times the stairs were too narrow to get furniture and other big items up. So......they used the pulley system. Still do, according to the guide. 

Köln was mostly destroyed during WWII, so they had to do a lot of rebuilding. This has led to an interesting mix of new and old architecture, which makes for a fascinating landscape. Here - old Koln on the left, a modern building on the right. 

Statue of gentlemen I cannot remember the names of. However, one is supposed to represent the simpler life, one is supposed to represent the fancy townsperson. Legend has it if you rub the nose of the simple man, you'll have luck. Rub the hand of the townsperson and you'll have financial success. But.....you can only choose one. 

More art to protest the government. It's worth zooming in to see exactly what the little boy is doing in the direction of the town hall. Upsetting enough that the government planted a tree to block the view.  :). 

Koln Cathedral! When I say this church is massive...... 

Towel art by my cabin steward. No idea what animal he is, but he's cute.....  

22 people from the Bob Jones Senior Center in Anderson, SC who were part of our cruise. They were a trip, and the leader was a dynamo. I don't think she slept the entire cruise.....