more köln

yesterday, we went to köln once more, this time to "take in" the city. see, we've been there several times, but once was just to see the dom, once was for the carnival parade, and once was on our train station before amsterdam. SO, we finally got to explore the city!

for part of the day, we went to the dom-treasure exhibit. quite magnificent! so much gold! we saw relicarys containing bones, busts of cardinals, chalices, rings, and vestments made of gold. one weighing 60kg! it was so impressive.

OH, and on the way TO to the treasury, we got to experience part of a mass (one being done specifically for japan) and i FINALLY got to hear the organ played! in one of the most famous cathedrals in the world! this, for me, would be like someone hearing their favorite musician play in the coolest arenas possible. (so, a pretty big deal) Dear Xian, if you still read my blog, i'll have to send you the photos of all the organs in so many cathedrals. you'd have enjoyed it, so much!

then we went to a part of town that had walls from over 2000 years ago. can you possibly imagine?! (ok, i'm sure some of you can, but let indulge me in my childlike wonder)

shortly after that, we met up with miriam at elisabeth's office, and went to the bridge over the Rhine. there is a tradition, in which two people lock a, well, lock, on the fence of this bridge, sealing their love. then, the key is tossed into the rhine, and it's fun times. (i'm sure to some, this is cheesy, but, it was also pretty nifty seeing all of these locks. thousands and thousands of them.)

we made our way through part of the inner circle of the city, and saw where when a few years ago they tried to build a judaica museum, they unearthed centuries old houses. some of which where from prominent jewish leaders, themselves! so, we got to see an excavation of sorts. hard to believe all of these houses were under the street we were walking upon!

after that, a bit more walking through the inner city, stopped in a department store, then again in an apotheke for scott, and took the train back to leverkusen. it was a bit sad on the train, though, when i realized this would be the last time on the DE-Bahn, aside from our train ride to DUS on thursday when we leave. i've grown very fond of having such easy access to public transit, in particular, public transit that makes sense.

i also got bummed out when i realized i had only a short time left here in deutschland, itself! it took SO long for this trip to get here. months and months of waiting.. and then, it just FLEW by! while i am happy to go home and see my friends/family, dogs, and bike... i really love this country. i can't really find the correct words to explain how it feels, but it feels right. unlike anywhere else i've ever visited. which, of course you realize, means that i must eventually make DE my home, right? ^_^ it just must be! (even if it's only for a year or ten.)