Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, GermanyCamera:
Canon M5
Lenses:
EF-M 11-22 f/4-5.
6 IS STM
EF-M 18-150 f/3.5-6.3 IS STM
EF-M 55-200 f/4.5-6.3 IS STM
Accessories:
Platypod Ultra
JOBY GorillaPod Ballhead X
Port: Cologne
Arrival Time: 8:00
Departure Time: 22:30
We awoke to a nice view of the industrial area of the
Rhine!! We had just passed Bonn and were on our way to Cologne. I was looking
forward to returning!!! Cologne was my first European experience! I have been
here eight or nine times!!! The city has a nice feel to it and I cannot wait to
get there!!!
So, I wasn’t going to do a tour here, but I never got any
history of the city. We met our tour guide and we went along the riverbank. We
cut into the old market area and finally looped around to the Dom. I found the
history informative. I am glad I took the tour.
Viking Excursion: Cologne Walking Tour
Information: https://www.vikingrivercruises.co.uk/cruise-destinations/europe/grand-european-tour/2020-budapest-amsterdam/index.html#itineraryday/13
Reservations: Required
Cost: Free
Required Time: 2 hours
Recommendation: Highly Recommend
After the tour, we went to St.
Ursula to see the side chapel
with the bones of the thousand virgins. Now, this is based on a legend and
maybe there were a thousand virgins – maybe there were only eleven. Things have
a habit of getting exaggerated over the centuries!! Perhaps if they had the
internet back then, the truth would have been known!!!
Activity: Basilica of St. Ursula
Website: https://www.stadt-koeln.de/leben-in-koeln/freizeit-natur-sport/sankt-ursula
Additional History: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_of_St._Ursula,_Cologne
Guide: No Guide
Reservations: Not Required
Cost: Free for church - €2 per person for the side chapel.
Required Time: 1/2 hour
Recommendation: Highly Recommend
We went out after lunch and found the Eigelstein Tower. I
had found it on an evening walk when I was here on my first trip! We walked
over to St. Gereon. Wholly Krap – it is awesome. I don’t know why I never
visited before!!! It is beautiful inside. As with every church we have
encountered in a city that was bombed during WWII, there were picture of the
destruction.
Most churches were rebuilt back to the original design. St. Gereon
was a little different. There were sections that were back to original, but
there were some modern elements added. I am going to add this to the itinerary
for the next trip!
Activity: St. Gereon's Basilica
Website: https://www.stgereon.de/
Additional History: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Gereon%27s_Basilica,_Cologne
Guide: No Guide
Reservations: Not Required
Cost: Free
Required Time: 1/2 hour
Recommendation: Highly Recommend
We made our way back to the Dom!! It is just simply
impressive to stand outside and look at the building. It is the largest gothic
cathedral in northern Europe. I am always overwhelmed standing close to the
entrance and looking up at the never-ending stonework going up to the sky!!
This was the first place I visited/toured in Europe and I still visit every
time I am in Cologne!!
Activity: Cologne Cathedral (Dom)
Website: https://www.koelner-dom.de/home.html?&L=1
Additional History: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cologne_Cathedral
Guide: No Guide
Reservations: Not Required
Cost: Free
Required Time: 1 hour
Recommendation: Highly Recommend
Tonight was the Disembarkation Lecture.
That is a sign that
the cruise is almost over! I did not think I would like it as much as I did and
am not looking forward to leaving!! Afterwards, Carl did a Dutch Masters
lecture. He did it all from memory. He did an excellent job!
2025-05-22