Hello everybody! After learning to read.сash, I decided to write my first post. At the moment I am on a small trip to western Europe. In covid times, the word travel lost its meaning. Travel has become severely limited or even impossible. But I adhere to a simple life principle - if there is a desire, then there will be opportunities. In my case, several factors coincided. Thus, I want to tell you about my little trip to the city of Cologne, one of the cultural cities of Germany.
Arriving in Cologne usually starts from the train station. From this moment the fun begins. Due to its convenient location, the railway station and one of the main attractions are located next to each other. Pictured above is the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Mary, this cathedral is the largest Gothic church in Northern Europe. Photography cannot convey all the beauty of this building. It looks impressive. All the most important events in the city take place in this place. Rallies of the sex minority are held here, various rallies are held and all tourists spend their time. The Cathedral is the only building that was not destroyed during the World War. However, the cathedral is still not 100 percent completed. It has several local legends.
Conveniently, there is free Wi-Fi throughout the territory. If you are a traveler without a local SIM card, then this will be a great addition to your trip. I walked around the cathedral from different sides. It was an amazing experience. However, there was no way to go inside. In order to get inside, a passport for vaccination against covid-19 was required. I am not vaccinated, which means that it is impossible for me to enter the cathedral.
Behind the majestic cathedral is another attraction of Cologne - the Old Bridge over the Rhine River. The bridge stands out from other bridges in the city and looks unusual. It is a transport artery not only for the movement of people, but also for trains. In addition, the bridge is a symbol of love. Numerous "love locks" are attached to it, which are attached as a symbol of strong love between couples of lovers.
I like that the Germans developed navigation on the Rhine. You can see many ships with people or cargo. People are transported by cruise river liners. They constantly run between cities and give people an unforgettable experience. The shipping industry in this part of Germany allows you to cut transport costs and save a lot of money. Moreover, it is a wonderful sight for tourists. The Rhine in this area is wide and deep, so ships can easily navigate any part of the river.
Going deeper into the city, you can see many ancient sights. Among them: old European buildings, many cathedrals, cultural monuments and much more. There are many historical monuments in the city center, each of which can tell its own story of existence. Many of the city's buildings did not survive World War II, but have been beautifully restored to their original appearance. Surprisingly, the city is over 2000 years old. Cologne is one of the oldest cities in Germany, its history dates back to the days of the Roman Empire. This city was of great geopolitical importance and influenced Western Europe.
I saw a couple of interesting finds - they were iron marks indicating the GPS coordinates. An interesting decision, as you can learn many interesting historical moments about this place. Such places are located in interesting historical places.
But along with the old buildings, modern construction is developing in the city. In some areas of Cologne, numerous modern buildings dominate. They look interesting and stand out against the background of old buildings and districts. Modern neighborhoods are home to not only futuristic residential buildings, but also the offices of large companies such as Microsoft. For this reason, Cologne can be considered not only an old city, but also a cultural center of Germany with modern architecture. But this is more likely to apply to the city center and some other areas. If you leave the territory of the old or modern part of Cologne, you will see the typical "sleeping areas" of Germany.
The city retains its historical component, but at the same time it is actively developing. In Cologne, there are many cultural places worth visiting for every tourist. I stayed in this city for only half a day, but was impressed. In order to visit all the sights of Cologne, one day will not be enough. And in order to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of this city, you should spend several days there. Cologne falls in love with itself.
This is just a small story from my recent adventures. This is just the first message and I hope it will find a response. I am still looking for my own path as an author of articles and am glad for criticism and attention. I wish everyone to quickly get through the covid times and return to a fulfilling life without restrictions. Travel and be happy.!
All photos belong to me. Thank you for the attention.
Nice posting about Cologne. Actually, just for reference, the Cologne Cathedral won't ever be finished, this building is too old and too big. There are always some parts that need to be restored or cleaned. And the Cologne Cathedral used to be white, by the way! Now pollution and weather made it rather grayish. And the two towers are not the same height, you can see it better from the other side of the rhine in a distance. The North-Tower is a few centimeters higher than the South-Tower. Best view: On top of the Cologne Triangle. The viewing platform is 100 meters above the ground. Have you been behind the Cathedral, where the Ludwig Museum is? There is the workshop, in the courtyard below you can see many statues and parts that are currently being restored or prepared to replace the old ones. You should also see Heumarkt and Fischmarkt, also close to the Cathedral. There are some nice old buildings and narrow streets up there.
The Flora and Chocolate Museum are also must-sees when you are in Cologne.