On the drive back to Frankfurt from Marken, we stopped by in Cologne – I wanted to show my Mum the Cologne cathedral (Kölner Dom). When I was in Germany as an exchange student in the summer of 1994, the soccer World Cup was about to begin and I remember two things when I visited the cathedral then: 1) Coca Cola was distributing free cans of Coke. I picked one with the signatures of the German football team then and it is still at home in Pune, 2) viewing the city from the top of the cathedral.

We did not make it to the top of the cathedral this time nor was there any free Coke, but my Mum was amazed at the architecture and the colossal proportions of this structure. And then I remember having a long, leisurely lunch with my Mum at the Funkhaus restaurant with the good-humoured waiter who attended to us.

I am glad we made this pit-stop on the way home – was worth every minute.

The cathedral stands tall on the horizon as you enter the city (June 2018)

With the spires reaching the height of 157m, the Cologne cathedral was the tallest building in the world from 1880 to 1890. (June 2018)

Approaching the cathedral from the southern side, you are immediately confronted with it Gothic architectural details. It is the largest Gothic church in Northern Europe. (June 2018)

The cathedral is said to have suffered 14 hits from aerial bombardment during WWII, but remained standing. It was also the scene os a tank combat in 1945. Restoration of the cathedral continues at the hands of the best stonemasons in the region (June 2018).

Staring up at the spires from the St. Peters fountain on the south side of the cathedral. (June 2018)

Next to the St Peter’s fountain is this memorial commemorating the World Youth Day 2005, which took place in Cologne led by the then Pope Benedikt XVI (June 2018)

Viewing the cathedral from the eastern side, you see the twin spires soar above the main entrance to the cathedral. The gigantic proportions become obvious then. (June 2018)

The interiors are equally as immense as the exterior proportions. The mastery and expertise involved in raising such a colossal structure is to be admired in silence. (June 2018).

A picture of the stained glass decorations is mandatory given my fascination for these (June 2018).

A large stone statue of St Christopher looks down upon the visitors. His story of carrying the child across a swollen river was taught to us in 3rd or 4th grade.. 🙂 (June 2018)

One of many artworks – this is the alter of city patrons depicting the Three Kings. (June 2018)

Another one is the renovated Achskapelle (June 2018)