Saturday, April 9, 2011

Cologne, Germany

*DAY 3*
Ok I don't know WHY I let this lady take an upshot of us!!
(Meet me & my double chin)
Cologne, Germany is an OLD city who is known for it's GINORMOUS Cathedral that took 800 years to build. It reminded me of the Cathedrals in Rome, although you didn't have to pay to see this one. This Cathedral is known to have "The Three Magis" (Kings) who paid homage to baby Jesus. The Golden Casket above to supposed to have them in it. Don't know if I buy that but it was still neat to see. Also the first known crucifix (bottom-right) is supposedly there. There were many people lighting candles & praying inside, but it had such a dark, empty, & actually eery feeling. Don't know how people think that is spiritual, but anyhow it was very neat to see this historical monument. Tim really wanted to climb the stairs that they say takes 45 min., but it had just closed by the time we were done. He was bummed.

After the Cathedral, we walked the town a while, got a few souveniers & hit a Bakery. We had yummy hot chocolate, shared a pastry & met a cute lil' old couple who happened to live in Newport Beach.

~Later that evening was our first Formal Dinner. 
It was a 2 hour dinner sitting next to strangers who were "low-talkers", but other than that it was good.
(small photo on left=trying to document my pregnancy amateur style)
I loved all the beautiful mosaics in the Dining Hall.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Light comes from windows. Different part of day, different light effect. This was a huge leap in architecture. The building began when when there were many faithful and few copies of scripture available, let alone a high literacy rate. The ability to make the buildings so high, large enough to hold many people and include the windows was a plus for the benefit of light and instruction. That is the practical reason for the stained glass. The stained glass tells story. It seems dark to us but 800 years ago this was amazing.

Perhaps if you were able to attend a mass you would have have left with a more spiritual impression?

AudyCamp said...

Thank you Anonymous for your comment. The stain glass WAS amazing especially for the day in age it was placed there. It is definitely an amazing building with incredible architecture. And the stained glass telling the stories of the scriptures was wonderful as you said because so many could/did not read the literal scriptures.
And Yes I think I meant more spiritually dark than physically dark. The absence of spiritual light as opposed to the physical aspect of it. The reason I even mention it is because I HAVE experienced many times over simply walking into a Religious structure and INSTANTLY feeling the Holy Spirit.

Ezra, Kian & Eden said...

So beautiful! I can't believe it took 800 years to build! Amazing!
Love your baby bump. :)

Jessica said...

I am so jealous of your amazing adventures!!! My hubby served his mission in Holland and I would absolutely love to go there with him someday!! Fun times for you and your man!!

LadyL said...

Yea! I'm so glad you got to visit Cologne -- it's beautiful, isn't it?!? (That's where I stayed when I went to Europe in HS). I'm sorry that Tim wasn't able to climb the stairs up to top of the Cathedral, but if it's any consolation, I did it, and my legs were jell-o once I got to the top! Sounds like you had a great getaway. Good luck with your little one on the way -- just a few more days left!

Stephanie said...

Love you baby bump picture!

Raich said...

That is a gorgeous preggy picture. What fun adventures you guys have.