Live by the Sun - Love by the Moon: DAY 112 & 113 – Let's Put on Some Cologne & I Don't Mean Perfume!

July 9 & 10 – The Cathedral & The Love Locks

Cologne (Köln) is one of the largest cities in Germany with more than 10 million inhabitants. Cologne is located on both sides of the Rhine River. The city's famous Cologne Cathedral and the University of Cologne, one of Europe's oldest and largest universities, are the icons most everyone is familiar with.

Kölner Dom

Cologne after the devastation of WWII in 1945- the Cathedral still stands.

During the 19th and 20th centuries, Cologne absorbed numerous surrounding towns, and by World War I had already grown to 700,000 inhabitants. Industrialization changed the city and spurred its growth. Vehicle and engine manufacturing were especially successful The cathedral, started in 1248 but abandoned around 1560, was eventually finished in 1880 not just as a place of worship but also as a German national monument celebrating the newly founded German empire and the continuity of the German nation since the Middle Ages. Some of this urban growth occurred at the expense of the city's historic heritage with much being demolished (for example, the city walls or the area around the cathedral) and sometimes replaced by present-day buildings.

During the night of 31 May 1942, Cologne was the target of "Operation Millennium", the first 1,000 bomber raid by the Royal Air force in World War II. This raid lasted about 75 minutes, destroyed 600 acres of built-up area, killed 486 civilians and made 59,000 people homeless. By the end of the war, the population of Cologne had been reduced by 95%. It's amazing that 70 years later, one can see very little remnants of this terrible time.

We start our day by going to the Old City of Cologne - nothing too exciting after everything else we've seen in other old cities in Europe. We have to remember, however, that most of it was lost due to the bombings of WWII.

Very little left of the Altstadt

We wandered into a church service of this old church. It was very nice with organ music and lovely singing of a small choir.

A tour through the inside of the church. It's always nice to know that some of the old historical buildings and churches weren't totally destroyed after WWII.

Everyone comes to this church to see Christ's robe, which supposedly was in his tomb.

Pretty scary, isn't he?

A list of all the Bishops since the year ?? - Can you find it? Email me for a prize if you see the date.

Here is the pipe organs where we heard the beautiful music.


The usual market in the center of the square

Cologne is a major cultural center of the Rhineland; it is home to more than thirty museums and hundreds of galleries. We, however, did not explore any of them. Our time was short, and most of them cost money to go into. We chose to take our time in the Cathedral and wander around a bit to see what we could see.

We grabbed a bite to eat at a Turkish fast foods place. We had tasted them a coule of other times on our European trip - YUM!
Doner kebab döner or döner kebap is a Turkish dish made of meat cooked on a vertical spit, normally veal or beef, but also a mixture of these with lamb or chicken.
The sliced meat of a Doner kebab may be served wrapped in a flatbread or it or as a sandwich instead of being served on a plate. The modernized version of the Doner kebab was first served in Berlin, Germany on March 2, 1971, by a Turkish immigrant

I chose to have it on a plate this time. It's usually served with french fries.

What should we have for dessert?

We chose a heart-shaped pretzel with almonds and sugar on top.

I love these little German dolls

So majestic and grandiose - the Cathedral was breath taking from outside

...and inside as well -Let's go inside to the beautiful stained glass windows

It seems like all the large cities in Europe have many beggars on the streets. Cologne was no exception.

Looks like he may be going to play his guitar

Beggars look so sad - how blessed I am to have the life I have.

We also saw several "performers" around the Cathedral, vying for attention with the tourists. Below are some of our favorites. We felt at least they were trying to earn a living by doing something, not just begging.

Try to figure this one out. Rich knows how they did it. Very interesting and they would sit there for a LONG time without moving.

Mickey - you belong in Disneyland and I bet you will get in trouble for being here if they knew.

Why, I believe it's Charlie Chaplin visiting.

This lady was sprayed all in gold and dressed like a Fairy Godmother or something.

Now this chap had some talent.

...and this guy was amazing, dancing and playing beautiful African-like music

He got a lot of attention with the kids doing tricks with balls.

The wall of “Love Padlocks” on display on the Hohenzollernbrücke bridge in Cologne was one of my favorite things EVER!

The Cathedral in the background added to the unbelievable sight on the bridge.

40,000 padlocks hang on the bridge to date -- a shocking number considering that the tradition only started in 2008. That means 40,000 couples -- 80,000 individuals in all -- have participated in this fast-growing, spontaneous collection. The padlocks have added over 2 tons of weight to the bridge, causing local officials to question how long the practice can be sustained.

"Maybe someday I will meet a boy and we can have a lock to throw the key into the river."

But for now, the wall of padlocks is enchanting -- though not nearly as enchanting as the actual tradition of hanging one. A happy couple, hopelessly enthralled by their affections, brings an open padlock to the bridge, marks it with their names and clasps it permanently into the collection, symbolizing the strength of their attachment to one another.

And to symbolize the everlasting nature of their love, the key is dropped over the edge, tumbling far below into the eternal waters of the river Rhine.

We don't have a padlock or keys, but you can be assured that we have a love for each other - after all we've been on this European trip now for 4 months (24/7) and we still have 3 more months to go. WE CAN DO IT!

As impressive as the collection of padlocks is, perhaps the more intriguing collection -- and almost certainly the longer-lasting one -- are the tens of thousands of tiny keys that now line the riverbed of the mighty Rhine.

After we walked across the bridge, we went up to a high look out area and saw a panorama scene of the city. The side toward the Cathedral was my favorite.