Our First Day in Cologne

The Cologne Cathedral
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We spent our first day in Cologne wandering the medieval streets and visiting the Cologne Cathedral.  Construction first began on the cathedral in the middle 1200s and it was finally completed in 1880.  It is one of the largest cathedrals in Europe.  Renovation and restoration is ongoing, as the original structure is made of sandstone and is susceptible to acid rain, bird droppings, and pollution.  Skilled craftsmen continually craft and replace eroded sections of the structure.  Handmade stained glass windows have been donated by wealthy benefactors beginning with the cathedral's inception.  Another interesting historical fact is that it supposedly houses the remains of the biblical three wise men.  We had the opportunity to climb to the very top of the cathedral; 509 steps in all!

The "Altstadt" (old town)
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Food of the Day:  At Aunt  Lisbeth's house that evening, we were treated to  pork tenderloin and traditional Bavarian Knoedel, which are basically dumplings with green onions.  But the best part was the gravy, which was full of Pfefferlinge (chanterelles, or mushrooms) and the dessert, which was fresh Johanisbeeren (don't know what those translate to in English).  Both are only available seasonally, and luckily we arrived at the right time to enjoy some!