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Guten Tag!!!! Well, today I went to Köln, which is about an 1hr and a half train ride from Mainz. It was pretty nifty, if i do say so myself. I didn't go alone, though as I had originally planned, instead Issac decided to come along with me, which, in my opinion, made things more fun. We got up early so that we could get a good decent train because last time we went to the Reise Zentrum to get tickets, hey told us that most of the trains to Cologne (for those non German speaker out there) leave early in the morning, so that if you want to go, you have to go in the morning.
The Train ride itself was really awesome because the track goes right along the Rhine River, which is in an of itself a beauty. We went through Bingen, and I've decided that I will be visiting there in the very near future (like more then likely next weekend because It's on the free-ticket rout so I don't have to pay for anything!!! AWESOME!!!!). Anyways, there are multiple castles and little villiges along the way to Cologne, but because I took the IC train, we only stopped in Koblenz and Bonn. However, as I said before, the ride along the Rhine was absolutely gorgeous even though the weather today was very dank and dreary.
We arrived in Cologne around 11:15 or so, and of course I booked it to the nearest "Presse" stand so that I could find a Cologne guidebook to guide me around the city. I found one alright, but it wasn't a really good one, so we ended up not really having a good map of the city in order to look off of. In any event, we decided to go out, and it was AMAZING! The first thing that you see when you exit the Hauptbahnhof in Cologne is the Dom. It's absolutely gorgeous! I was also stunned by its sheer size, I mean to be completely honest I don't think I have ever seen a structure as large and imposing as the Dom of Cologne. It was Awesome. I totally felt like the group of Japanese tourists, next to whom we were standing, because I was like, "Dude, Isaac, you have to take a picture of me in front of the Cathedral" and it was awesome (this photo is in my album....FYI). Anyhoo, we did that, and then we went inside. Again, AMAZING!! And yes, I know that I've used that adjective quite a bit, but it's really the only one that I feel adequately describes how I felt. The inside of the Cathedral is so large and the ceiling is so high that you immediately feel like you are in something more than just a church....it's almost like you can literally feel the presence of God. Behind the main alter are the Relics of the three Magi (whether or not they are the real bones is beyond me, but hey, that's what they've been advertising since 1300 AD....so who am I to judge) and they are encased in this beautiful Golden box. Isaac and I couldn't get close enough to take a really good photo of the Shrine, but I would definitely encourage anyone to google a pic of it to see what it looks like. It's absolutely a wonder.
At noon, Isaac and I decided that we were not going to stay for midday prayers, and so we left. Well, when we exited the Dom, we discovered a protest, right on the other side of the transcept then the entrance next to the Hauptbahnhof. We looked into it and found that it was a demonstration against Turkey going into Northern Iraq into what I guess would be considered "Kurdistan" even though no official nation of that name exists. In any case, it was very interesting to see all these people milling about and shouting about Hitler and Mussolini right next to one of the oldest and most beautiful cathedrals in the world.....I also took photos of this. The whole protest thing really forced Isaac and I to use our German abilities because We really wanted to know what was going on, and English was DEFINITELY not the dominant language of the protest or of the police.
After seeing the protest, we wandered around the city and saw a few more churchs and things, before finially coming back to the main square with the Cathedral and going to the Roman German Museum. OMG! That too was awesome! There were so many artifacts that I couldn't believe my eyes. There was a completely intact mosaic floor (something of which I have only seen in books) and then other busts of really famous people --think Caesar Augustus, Nero, Caligula, Livia and Agrippina--. AWESOME! Also during the day I bought myself a couple of rosaries...yes I do mean two. I am really going to try to sit down and say the rosary because I think it's a goo meditation device and I think it will also bring me back into a more closer meditation with God. No, Jessica, I am not relying on this mainly, I just think it's a good tool for bringing one's mind closer to God and therefore allowing one a more open head when they pray and talk with God.....that's all I'm saying. I got post cards too so that I can decorate my room some more....it's really cool. OH,OH!! Ok, so I forgot, so I also bought a piece of the Cathedral. There were these post cards for like 4 euro and they came with a tiny piece of the cathedral from when it was redone or what have you when they were messing with the foundations in '98. SO I bought it and now I officially OWN a piece of the Cathedral of Cologne! EXCITING!!!!!
I think that the only rough spot for this whole day was when Isaac and I left to go home and the friggin train was 30 min late. Then I got to freaking out about not having a seat assignment, for it was an ICE, so I decided that it would be a good idea to go and ask one of the red-caps if they knew if I needed a seat reservation. Well, me, because I'm a little weird when it comes to those things, immediately asked if he spoke English, ans he said yes. So I proceeded to ask him about the reservations. He then kindly told me that my train was 30 minutes late, but that I didn't need to change tracks, just wait at number 7. Well, this really didn't help me, so I tried asking again....again, same response. So finally I looked at him and was like, "Umm.....this isn't working" to which he responded by staring at me with this absent minded look on his face. So I finally looked at him and was like, "Wir haben keine Pläte Reservierungen, brauchen wir Resevierungen, wenn wir mit dem ICE fahren möchte?" to which he looked at me and was like how come you didn't speak German before, and then told me I didn't need a seat number. I think sometimes I don't give myself enough credit when it comes to speaking German, because I really need to, I can totally do it.....well actually. I guess for matters of transportation, at least when I am tired and want to go home, I want ti to be in English so I am 100% clear on what's being said.
Moving right along, I miss my friends. Not to say that I don't have any here, I do, but i miss my good friends like Amy and Lauren. I can't even talk to Lauren that much because it's so damn expensive to call the states and now she just go rid of her internet....Amy's the same way, I miss talking to her on a daily basis, and I kinda wish that she were here so that we could talk and then go exploring together... Hm....well, idk.
Anyways, I'm sure you will anxiously be awaiting my post about Bingen when I finally decide to go there (which like I said will more than likely be next weekend). Until then, look at my photos, and enjoy!!!!
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