Cologne
Cologne was the first German stop on our Viking cruise and our first time in the country. I have German roots on my father’s side, so I felt a special affinity for the country.
The air was crisp and the temperature mild. It was such a perfect day to tour the city! A motor coach transported us from the drop off point on the Rhine river into the city and we saw a bit of residential area and countryside.
The Cathedral
Firstly, our local Viking tour guide first took us to the Cologne Cathedral , the largest Gothic church in Northern Europe and one of Germany’s most famous landmarks. Its twin towers dominate the Cologne skyline. The cathedral is also a World Heritage Site and the most visited site in Germany.
They began construction on the cathedral in 1248, but did not finish it until 1880. Lengthy interruptions occurred due to war and financial difficulties. They built the cathedral to enshrine the bones of the Three Wise Men. The shrine is located in the back of the cathedral. We had limited access inside because it was Sunday. So, we couldn’t view the shrine.
While we could view and photograph from the back of the cathedral, we couldn’t go beyond.
Church personnel had roped off the main area because a mass was being held.
Prayer candles and ancient artwork were in the back of the church and were also accessible to visitors.
The builders had placed many statues of biblical heroes upon the facade of the church. From my research, I believe that the two below are Elijah and King Solomon.
Pollution causes the dark areas of the cathedral and, therefore, it is an ongoing effort to clean the exterior. As soon as the last area is cleaned, the earlier areas that were cleaned need it again.
Lastly, we learned that the cathedral was damaged from bombs by the Allies during WW II. The damage was repaired though.
The Rest of the Tour
While the cathedral was a main portion of our tour, we subsequently saw a few more areas of interest. Our guide, Ulrika, certainly was a hoot. She had a great, somewhat quirky, sense of humor. I really enjoyed her!
Stumbling Stones
The stumbling stones below were in an area near the cathedral in front of some shops. Ulrika explained their meaning. They have laid over 70,000 of these blocks throughout Europe and Russia. Many of the stones are financed by schoolchildren who learn of their meaning and about former residents in their area. They place the stones where the victims previously lived. The victim’s name, date of birth, date of death, and method of death are etched on the stone.
I was very touched by this way they are remembering the victims of the Nazi regime.
Heinzelmannchen Fountain
The city established the water fountain below in 1900 as art that depicts a legend. The Heinzelmannchen were a mythical race of gnomes who, according to legend, did the mundane work during the night for Cologne residents. A tailor’s wife wanted to see them and spread peas to make them slip and fall. They became angry and never returned. Thus, the residents of Cologne had to do the work themselves.
Cars and Bikes
We didn’t see the massive number of bikes like in the Netherlands, but we did see more than in the United States. Also, we saw this very tiny one-person car.
The Chocolate Museum
Our tour guide mentioned the Chocolate Museum during our tour. We returned to our ship with our “leisurely” group for lunch. We came back later that afternoon to visit the museum.
A giant Ferris wheel spins to its side. The museum has all you could ever want to know about chocolate and the displays cover multiple floors.
The exhibits had information on how cocoa beans are harvested, a history of chocolate, plus some antique vending machines and chocolate cups. Chocolate-making machines were also on display.
They gave us some samples. Yum!
Afterwards, we ordered the local beer of Cologne. There were beautiful pastries and candies in this restaurant, but we didn’t have the time or appetite.
A Rickshaw Ride
Our trip to and from the museum was via rickshaw. Our Viking desk arranged it for us through “Let It Roll.” It was a lovely experience. Our two drivers were friendly and helpful .
A Beautiful Sunset
After dinner, we watched the sunset across the Rhine with the cathedral in view. It was a beautiful end to the day!
In Conclusion
We only had one day in this beautiful city and couldn’t do everything, but we saw a lot. I somewhat wish we had stayed on the other side of the bridge instead of going back to the ship for lunch. However, we are limited in what we can do physically and it was probably good that we didn’t push ourselves too hard. Travel while young and healthy if you can!
We love to travel, so my blogs have covered a lot of territory. We visited Kinderdijk in the Netherlands just before this stop. Check it out!
