Today, we decided to go to Cologne to see the Cathedral because it was going to be the best day for photos, weather-wise. We got out the door relatively early and headed out. Traffic was pretty light and all I can say is thank goodness we’ve got GPS. There would be NO WAY we’d be able to get around as easy.
Anyway, we parked the car in the parking structure and when we came up the stairs, we were greeted with this:
I cannot even begin to explain how massive and ovewhelming this structure is. And the detail…oh…the detail work! What began as a vision in 1248 was finally completed 632 years later. Think about that….working on it for six hundred and thirty two years. Eeep!
This is the South Tower that holds the Belfry…which includes 533 steps up to the top…going around and around in a circle. It took a while, but I made it. Up all 533 and back down the same 533. Besides the fact that I am afraid of heights…climbing 533 steps in a circle almost made me sick….but, I’m proud to say, I made it.
This is the tunnel to the Belfry stairs. Notice the arch design with multiple arches. Crazy!
This is me waiting in the Spire Gallery waiting for Keith (who went up a little higher to see the sights). Notice the graffiti behind me…this is found all over Germany…for some reason. I’m actually surprised by this.
This is part of the machinery that was used to help build this Cathedral…are you kidding me?!?!?
Some views from the very top of the South Tower:
Now, here are some pictures from the inside of the Cathedral….just as the outside is amazing…the inside is just as breathtaking:
Here is the Organ…the pipes are huge!
Statues are found all over…
You can see the gorgeous stained glass windows behind the statue. Every single window was different and made up of at least 32 individual panels that each tell a story! W-O-W!
And now…the floors….and yes, those are all mosaic!
So, overall…it took us a few hours to get through the entire thing. Maybe it’s just me going slow and really appreciating everything…but it was a really nice day. We ate a light lunch and headed back to our home base. Before we got there, we went to the store to pick up some groceries and as a final picture for today…enjoy this…
We’re not sure what it is, but the little bit of German we know, we think it’s something like chocolate covered twinkie like things. 🙂 Until tomorrow…and our next adventure!