Köln (Have I mentioned that I now have internet?)

Saturday, September 23rd:

I took the train to Köln today and it was AMAZING. Unfortunately I can't share my personal pictures with you at this time (because of the internet limit) but;

http://www.stanton.co.nz/oe/GERMANY/KolnDom.JPG

will take you to a nice night shot of where I was. The large building in the background is the Kölner Dom (Officially: Hohe Domkirche St. Peter und Maria). We actually climbed the stairs up to the bell tower, and then even further up to the very top. Also in that picture is the Rhein River where we sat and ate dinner and watched the sunset. Previous to dinner we (friends and I) went to the Ludwig Museum of Art where I saw several Andy Warhols (including his multi-colored Marilyn Monroe's), over 40 Picasso paintings, sketches, and sculptures, as well as some pieces by Salvidor Dali and Matisse.

Taken from Wikipedia (I can't believe I just cited Wikipedia):

"The cathedral is a World Heritage Site, being one of the best-known architectural monuments in Germany, and Cologne's most famous landmark, described by UNESCO as an "exceptional work of human creative genius".[1] Cologne Cathedral is one of the world's largest churches, being the largest Gothic church in Northern Europe. For four years, 1880-84, it was the tallest structure in the world, until the completion of the Washington Monument followed by the Eiffel Tower. It has the second-tallest church spires, only surpassed by the single spire of Ulm Cathedral, completed ten years later in 1890. Because of its enormous twin spires, it also presents the largest facade of any church in the world.

The quire of Cologne Cathedral, measured between the piers, also holds the distinction of having the largest height to width ratio of any Medieval church, 3.6:1, exceeding even Beauvais Cathedral which has a slightly higher vault. [2]

Construction of the Gothic church began in 1248 and took, with interruptions, until 1880 to complete – a period of over six hundred years. It is 144.5 metres long, 86.5 m wide and its two towers are 157 m tall. [3]"

For more info and pictures: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cologne_Cathedral