Everywhere we went in Germany was very different. We had a stop in Koblenz and experienced a wonderful tour of the Marksburg Castle there. It is one of the most beautifully and best preserved castles in the area, and at over 700 years old, it is hard to imagine life there back in that time. It has retained most all of its original construction. The terrain around it prevented it from ever being attacked during the countless wars raging around it.
Cologne might have been our favorite city in Germany of the port cities we visited. Like I said before, we have to go back. The other historic cities in that country have to be phenomenal. This was the Kolner Dom, Germany's largest cathedral.
Spectacular is about the best adjective I can use. The detail was unbelievable. There was some reason that it could not be cleaned. I missed that explanation. It was built in phases. As money was available, they would add to it. It was exquisite.
See how different it looked up a bit closer?
My inside pictures were dark - no flash allowed.
The detail wasn't only on the outside of the building. Everything from the floor to the ceilings inside were unbelievably beautiful. I loved the mosaic floors. Heck, I loved the cobblestone streets outside!
We opted out, but there was ice skating for the more adventurous. Typically, I would have been all in for lots of reasons.
A) I can't ice skate at home.
B) No one knew me, so humiliation would have been at a minimum.
But the reasons to NOT skate outweighed the reasons to do it. What if I would have broken a limb? We were only half way through our trip. Maybe next time.
People-watching is always fun. Yes, as I was finishing up my Christmas shopping, I would be sure and wear 8 inch heels. And if that wasn't enough to get noticed, I would make sure my purple hair was in sharp contrast to my green coat and red purse. I think the orange package was just a lucky coincidence.
Oh, Cologne, (Kohln), we loved you!
