Koln, shopping and a Bloody Big Church!

Monday 29/08/11 was another sight seeing day! We went to Cologne (Koln).
Dating back to the 15th October 1880, the Cologne Cathedral was the highest building in the world, standing at 157.38 m .

The Front Entrance.

The Cologne Cathedral is just amazing! - the size of the building, the art work, the lovely stained glass windows. They looked fabulous when the sun was shining in the windows & leaving a rainbow of color on the walls. To think that in the year 1248, the Archbishop of Cologne, Konrad Von Hochstaden laid the first foundation stone. I am sure he never had visions of the building growing this big! It took 632 years after the 1st foundation stone was laid & the largest church facade ever built was finished. Imagine climbing 533 steps a day to get to work!! No wonder that man up in the 'office' was grumpy!!
look at this web address for more information on the Cologne Cathedral www.domkloster4.de

Climbing the Stairs to the belfry

Most beautiful stained glass windows

The huge Pipe Organ

High speed bullet train

Globetrotter Store...4 floors of camping, clothing & outdoor equipment, including a pool to try out the canoe or the diving gear!

Steve & his mate wearing the North Face T-shirt

Yes, All sizes, every colour = selecton...

Jam filled Doughnut anyone ? 2 for 1.25 Euro

Ya, is that Werner with Woody?

A Wall of every Lego block type ever made...new modern colors too

Lego Shop = Bulk Lego bits and kits.

To the Alien Office!! As we are actually in Europe / Germany for 93 days we are over staying our holiday visa, so we have got to go & get an extention on this paper work. Unfortunately, they want us to make an appointment!  The earliest we could get was for next Friday at 08:00 - the day of Werner & Claudia's wedding.




Tuseday Steve & I went off to Schloss Burg (Castle Berg). Another very interesting place to visit. This site was first used as a fortress over a 1000 years ago AD. I'm sure if the walls could talk they could tell many tales. Inside is a museum full of very interesting wares. These people were so clever with their hands, to see the old pots & pans, spinning wheels and a multitude of ceramic crockery, jugs, glassware & lovely cutlery with ceramic handles.

Schloss Burg

Halt! Who goes there?

On the way back I had to give Steve a little poke in the side to remind him to get over to the right hand side....I don't really want to wear a window!

Steve here, yes it was the 1st time tho. Just leaving the tool/ hardware shop where we had bought a few basic tools for bike maint. No cars small roadway, and I was 'driving' on the LHS!! Only for 10Sec's or so...

Wednesday we will pack (proper) the bike for heading to the MRT Rally camp site. We only have a 120kms for this leg as we'll have another home stay over night at Werners Granma and Aunts place. Before continuing on to the camp site, on some back roads.

Cheers,
Stephen and Deb.