Cologne Cathedral

When you first exit the train station in Köln, Germany, you are confronted with a MASSIVE gothoc/neo-gothic cathedral that takes up 2/3rd of the horizon. However, once you get past the size, you realize that people are everywhere around the base, and not just tourists either. While germany has become increasing secular over the years, the cathedral has remained a place for teenagers to socialize, families to take their kids, street artists to perform, draw chalk portraits on the sidewalk, and for people like myself to sit back and enjoy. While i was inside i learned that the cathedral was begun in the 12th century, but it actually took 700 years to complete, so it started out in the then-modern gothic style of france, but ended up being completed in the neo-gothic period. I have great pictures but the USB at my current hostel is out of order.

But Köln is more than just a giant church. Thats right folks, it is also one of the largest areas for shopping i have ever seen. We're talking 4 H+M's, at least 7 American fast food stops, and in a great twist of irony, 2 Christ jewelers. And that was just in a 2 square km area. Needless to say, it reminded me again how underdressed i am in Europe and how i wish i had more room in my pack for more stylish apparel.

My net time is about to run out, and i am going on a free walking tour of Berlin with a group of 4 international students who are in my dorm room (1 German, 1 italian, 1 French, and 1 Turkish, needless to say VERY interesting political discussions, esp concerning armenian genocide and frances latest political maneuver)

Next up "A Tale of Two Clubs"