Cologne - Part Une
Cologne (or Koln. Very interesting stories about how it got the name btw) was the next pit stop in my journey. Owing to our super health status, we reached there 2 days earlier than planned. As soon as our bus made its final stop, we got down only to collapse in N's arms. Ok not literally. I added that dramatic bit. But I cannot tell you how relieved we felt after seeing him and getting hugs from him. I was in a better position so I was guarding our bags and Paglet had collapsed on the nearby waiting bench. A 20 minute cab drive later, we reached home, cozy home! N cooked some delicious soups for us (Veg for me, chicken for Paglet). We popped our medicines and went off to sleep. Only to wake up on Sunday, 10-12 hours later. Sunday was spent in resting. Eat, sleep, talk repeat.
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| As they say in Koln, home is where the Dom is! |
By Monday, we both were feeling much better. So risk takers that we are, we headed out for a mini tour of Cologne. Did I mention yet that my friend Paglet volunteers as a tour guide in Cologne at CYHIT. So the real tour of Cologne was to happen during my later stopover. Anywho, we went to Dom (Cologne cathedral) and love locks bridge (Hohenzollern Bridge). The Dom was spectacular. To imagine a 600 year old building still standing today, been witness to so much history, was mind-blowing. We also went inside, soaked in its beauty and history. Also, noticed that the Dom is visible from everywhere. Its freaking HUGE!!!
Pop culture aside, the bridge was really nice to walk on. It crosses over the Rhine and gives really pretty views of the city.
(I could not help but roll my eyes at the money people spend to pay for locks and seal their love on a bridge. Also my opinion, no offense to anyone.)
Being out for just 2 hours tired us and we decided to go back home. On the way back, we also visited N and Paglet's new home, in a nice, quiet neighborhood. Ended the evening with some home cooked food and going to bed early like good kids.
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| Clear skies and a view of the bridge! |
The next day, Paglet's dry cough was back. So she decided to rest, as we had to leave for Italy soon. So I used her bus pass to visit the El-DE haus, one of the many many museums Cologne boasts of. Paglet had warned me that it would not be an uplifting experience. And oh boy! was she right! It was so depressing. I took the audio guided tour so it added to the misery. EL-DE haus was a Gestapo prison (later concentration camp) in the middle of a bustling residential area in Cologne. A lot of innocent citizens were rounded up and crammed here for investigation. The basement had chambers whose walls were carved with desperate messages and cries of these brave but poor souls. I was so bummed to be there. But I told myself to brave through all the stories. Because if these people could live through it, I could listen through it. Some of the survivor's stories were painted on the walls with timelines. I also read through all of them. Needing some fresh air after this heavy dose of despair, I went to an open space behind the house. It felt good to be there. When I walked up to a wall, what I read sent shivers down my spine. 40 people were executed in that open space, in the middle of the city, without anyone ever noticing it. And I was standing there! I was not sure whether I should laugh or cry.
So I trudged on. Upper 2 stories of the museum were more about Hitler and Nazi regime's rise in Germany. I had always known Hitler was a bad guy, but understanding what and how bad becomes bad was an eye opener. They also had a special room on the 3rd floor. This room housed the household materials of the inhabitants of the upper few stories of the building. Remember, it was a normal looking residential building which housed a prison in the basement. I am not sure when was the last time I had felt so sombre. I ended up spending 3-4 hours in the museum. After that I was in no mood to do anything so headed back home.
We spent the evening packing bags for next 5 days in Italy. With our health in check it was finally beginning to feel like a vacation.
P.S. Expenses: I did not spend a penny in Cologne, as I was staying with friends and eating home food and using their bus pass. The ticket to El-DE haus was 4-8 Euro if you take the audio option.