Friday, Oct. 5, 2007 - GERMANY - Köln (Cologne) - leaving

Köln (or Cologne) is an important German city.  For us, we had little time to try to get a taste of modern Cologne. As stated in our previous day's album, the railway workers were planning a strike to begin on this Friday.  We needed to return to Belgium for some planned activities before we would have to return to the States.  We had some assurances that the relatively short "international" run between Cologne and Brussels would not be affected by the strike.  However, to play safe, we pre-purchased tickets and decided we would leave this city around noon.  That was only time to get a few samples of Köln.  We would have to be up early for a walk-about.
1

On the previous day, we were too tired & anxious to get checked in. We failed to take our customary photo(s) of our hotel. Here is the Hotel Arde's entrance at Auf der Ruhr 5.
2

And on the other side of this triangular block, we get this view of another entrance & what must be the new 6 story addition where our room was located (white & gray building on right).
3

Quite close to our hotel was this large upscale mall called "Opern Passagen" (opera passages). Yes, one could walk through the boutiques to the other side & find oneself at the Opera building.
4

Actually on this same block, just across the street from the opera house, we came across a rather famous address, No. 4711 Glockengasse.

[An interesting #4711 DW German media article from Aug. 2006.]
5

We enter the Traditionshaus (Traditional House), the home of the world famous fragrance, No. 4711 Original Eau de Cologne. This shot of the sales area & a beautiful tapestry, was taken from the upstairs museum area.
6

Peg heads back down where Keith insisted on some purchases. Yes, when in Cologne, one must buy Cologne! (the REAL stuff). Notice the small fountain in upper left by the entrance. It has Cologne running freely for patrons to try. [Some History]
7

Also near our hotel was this building that houses a local radio station - very interesting & attractive modern architecture - especially at night when blue concentric circles radiated out like radio waves.
8

Peg stands with a statue in honor of a local blue-blood priest who went to China & gained some notoriety - Johann Adam Schall von Bell (1591-1666). No, we had never heard of him before either.
9

The seemingly always busy pedestrian street called Hohe Straße that leads south from the plaza in front of the Cathedral.
10

Arriving at the large area in front of Köln's famous Cathedral, we find the area is not yet crowded. An anti-violence anti-war display is just setting up.
11

This is a popular place for street theater & art, as well as political statements. Here behind Peg, a sidewalk chalk artist get an early start. Later numerous "human statues" would appear.
12

 We take pictures of lions these days because Patrick has expressed a fondness for them. There certainly is no shortage of lion motifs in Europe. This guy on the cathedral door must get his nose stroked fairly often.  
13

 Europe cathedrals contain absolutely awesome, gorgeous, glorious, elegant, amazing works of art.  One could make an exciting lifetime study of them, but it would take just that -- a lifetime.
14

 The organ here is also quite worthy of mention.  We've heard of people who make a lifetime study of organs as well. (Had we but world enough, and time. . -A.Marvell) 
15

 The obligatory photo of the eastern light coming thru the apse clerestory windows.  It never ceases to generate that little gasp--which must be the origin of the term "breath-taking"
16

 This breathtakingly framed triptych gloriously forms this altar of Agilophus.  It comes from Antwerp and is dated about 1520.
17

 This sweet little statue has her hands full.  We came upon her while looking for the famed "Milan Madonna" which we were  not able to find.
18

 Floor tiles are often overlooked since one is often looking upward in cathedrals, but we found this one to be especially pleasing to the eye.  
19

 Ah, here is yet another friendly lion figure!  Each pew in this chapel had a different carved totem or guardian.  
20

 This is one of 5 Bavarian Windows donated in 1842 by King Ludwig I of Bavaria.  It portrays the Adoration of the Shepherds and the Kings (above)   The prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel are below.
21

With Peg having gotten her "cathedral fix" for the day, it was time to catch our train. Just across this square from the Cathedral, the main Hauptbahnhof train station awaits us.
22

As we get closer to the entrance, we find that the vans & small crowds near the entrance are TV crews ready to grab some news of the strike. Getting a little nervous, we hustle inside & find there are no strike lines, no delays or restrictions on our train.
23

We soon entered this large greenhouse-like arched structure to leave on our train. As we pulled out, Keith quickly grabbed this BONUS PHOTO of some familiar numbers high inside this station.
24

We are soon heading smoothly out of the station toward Brussels. On our way we would pass through the modern terminal of Aachen & the familiar Belgium town of Leuven & "home" (now) to familiar Brussels.

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