Köln

For my "teacher job" training this week, I have had the pleasure of catching the train into Köln every morning. If you have never been to Köln before, it is a vibrant, diversified city, somewhat reminding me of Winnipeg. People of all races and ethnicities...at any given moment, walking down the street, you can pick up at least 3 or 4 different languages being spoken (usually English, German, French and Turkish).

What I love the most about this city is how old buildings (namely the numerous churches, the occasional Rathaus or cityhall) and modern buildings (shops, houses) are intermixed with each other. And it seems normal!
Walking along a street brings many thoughts... "Oh, what a beautiful church! I wonder if it's Catholic or Protestant?" And meanwhile, in my next two steps, Peek & Cloppenburg (a clothing store) comes into view, and I begin thinking, "Hmmm, do I need a new sweater??)

Just before Christmas, I had the wonderful experience of touring the Zentrum of Köln with Georg's cousin (who should become Köln's next tour guide, in my opinion). Claudia knows so much about the city, taking me back into the vibrant past of this city.
Did you know that Köln was a Roman city and that ruins are still being found now??
Did you know that lovebirds place locks on the train bridge across the Rhein as a token of their love??
Did you know that Napoleon used the Dom (Cathedral) as a horse stable?? (To prove his point of what he thought of the Germans, I believe.)
So, this week, it has been great being able to walk through the crowded shopping streets of Köln while thinking about the culture/history that has occured here.

Speaking of culture...Köln will soon be über crowded with over 1 million people...for Karneval!! I can't wait!


The magnificient Köln Dom (cathedral).


Inside the Dom.