Kölner Dom: 600 years in the making......... well worth the wait!

Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom) is one of the most beautiful buildings I've seen and don't just take my word for it, DH agrees.  Even DJ was struck by how tall and magnificent it is.  We asked him if he would like to go inside and he said "YEAH!".  (Good thing he has seen the School House Rock for ex-cla-ma-tions!)  Hotel Albergo was lovely, though loud on the weekend with several Stag and Hen parties laughing until 4am, and greets you with gummy bears on the pillows instead of chocolates.  DJ was very impressed with this and promptly ran to each pillow to snatch them up.  DH wasted no time in ordering up a Kolsch (specialty beer brewed in Köln) at dinner and we dined on the square.


First day DH went to work meetings and DJ and I rode the bus to the train to the zoo.  I was excited for him to see some elephants as Detroit, MI and Fort Wayne, IN zoos don't have them; but he was most interested in the penguins and the monkeys.

Second day we all went to Kölner Dom.  After walking the full perimeter we entered and followed along a self guided tour seeing the Shrine of the Three Magi and a stunning chapel featuring the oldest stained glass in the cathedral.
I've never really paid much attention to relics in the past, but the three magi was a meaningful experience for me.  "We Three Kings" is my favorite Christmas carol, even though it's officially for Epiphany, and I was struck by the reality that this is the resting place for the individuals who led in wonder, journeyed to worship Jesus and honor him with gold, frankincense and myrrh.  What treasures do I have from my own journey to lay at Jesus feet?
In the Treasury on the lower levels we saw a room filled with more than half a dozen illuminated manuscripts...Ay me...I'm in love!  The gold leaf and calligraphy was beautiful.    


We also climbed the tower...an incredibly narrow spiral staircase consisting of 533 steps (not a typo!).  The first break is at the bell tower level with where you can see The St. Peter Bell: the largest free-swinging bell in the world.  While we were walking around this area, one of the much smaller bells rang without notice and was so loud it scared DJ into my arms shaking.  After hearing bells almost everyday since arriving in Deutschland, it was suddenly very clear why you can hear them echo across the entire city!  The second break is at a round room with stone benches all around where it is much cooler than the staircase...phew!  I stayed here and DH took an insistent DJ up the remaining 100+ steps to the viewing deck to see the cityscape.  DJ was ready to rock since he was carried most of the way up...DH is my hero.  :)


So what else is worth a visit in Cologne?  Well, the Chocolate Museum was fun AND delicious.  I would quit my day job, but the lady at the chocolate fountain was handing the wafers to visitors instead of indulging herself.  Needless to say it smelled wonderful in there and it was fun to see how the chocolates are made.  Am I grateful that I live in a time and place where I have access to chocolate every day?  You bet I am!







Having a child completely and totally devoted to any kind of transportation vehicle, we also took a boat tour on the river which is a nice change of scenery.  DH and I would like to take a longer adventure to see the castles overlooking the river.  Anyone wanna babysit?  :)




The Römisch-Germanisches Museum had some almost complete mosaic floors dating back to the founding of Cologne by the Romans way back when.  They also had a reconstructed passenger wagon which DJ was rather taken with and an Egyptian mummy part of a special exhibit.  (If you have noticed we visited a lot of museums, you are right on...the weather was cool/rainy most days.)

Being fully aware that double decker bus tours are super cheesy, I love 'em anyway.  DJ was thrilled to ride on the top deck, even though it did break out in a downpour - driver  ran the convertible ceiling closed, it provided for a fun few hours of seeing without walking.  It's a great way for DH to get his bearings, as he should since I'm directionally impaired and he has the ever correct internal compass.


The post wouldn't be complete without a food update.  I've already mentioned the Kolsch beer, right?  Being in a tourist area, many people spoke English and there was a wider variety of dining opportunities.  DH was in search of the roasted pig knuckle which tastes a lot like pulled pork, but is still on the bone all in one piece.  I was rather excited about the Chicago Steakhouse and was looking forward to a nice burger, loaded baked potato and maybe a small salad.  Well, they did have salad and a hamburger which was served without a bun or a tomato or a leaf of lettuce or a slice of cheese and don't even get me started on the swiss and mushrooms I so love!  We did enjoy some Italian Gelato at a cafe on the square and DJ had his fair share of hot chocolate for the weekend.


On the train ride home, we all picked our favorite part of the weekend...DJ liked the big, big bell best.  Go figure!


Thing I miss most about USA?  Knowing what everything in the grocery store is and for the most part how to use it.  There are some cold cut meats here that frankly scare me.
Thing I love most about Germany?  Fresh made pretzel, sliced and buttered...available at every bakery.  


  


  




        

Just Plain YUMMY!

I've been away too long amid more boxes than I can count, but the end is drawing near...well, closer anyway.  But onto something even better...

Having been to the OBI (much like a Home Depot with the pet fish department at Meijer), we decide to have dinner at the place around the corner.  Hello Wichtel Hausbrauerei, where have you been all this time?  Not only does DH rave about the beer, but they have amazing pizza called Ofenfrische Wichtelkucken.  A8: Rahm, Kaese, Speck, Sauerkraut, Schnupfnudeln, Deb reziner.  To sum up, it's cheese pizza without tomato sauce with sausage, sauerkraut and long potato noodles.  

It is so delicious that we went back the next night and had it again, that's right two in a row!  We ate inside the next night and it was just a lovely as outside so we have another good eats with two thumbs up.  The pizza does take awhile to come as they are made fresh to order, but all the more time for beer.

While Germans take good ole beer and pizza to a new level, they don't really do ice cream all that well.  Actually, they do make exotic and delicious flavors...such as green apple...it isn't the smooth creamy stuff I prefer.  More like a Gelato Sorbet than actual ice cream.  They do only call it Eis (ice) so maybe the cream part isn't as big a deal?  Fortunately, DJ thinks it is just fine and why not when it comes looking like a bumblebee complete with little paper umbrella and cookie wings?  His smile says it all I think.  :)

I was also smiling big as the coca-cola I ordered came with a glass which is standard here, but the glass was filled with ice cubes!  It's the first time that has happened and I didn't even ask...the waiter must have known we were Americans.  Sometimes I forget that we stick out like a sore thumb to the natives as I'm getting used to the staring and have even started making eye contact without smiling since they don't smile back.  (I've heard that it is viewed as weakness or a simple mind here.  Maybe it's just city living?)  

DH has a meeting in Cologne on Thursday and will take a vacation day Friday so DJ and I are tagging along for a long weekend away.  We plan to take the train instead of drive so DJ will be very happy about that.  He still gets so excited when our train pulls up...so cute!

What I miss most about the USA:  My mom and dad...love you.        

What I love most about Germany:  Almost never hearing the neighbors even though we live in a building with six other households.