We were there when we woke up this morning. Walked into town with a very nice guide named Jeremy. Jeremy we think was originally from the UK, but he came to Koln 30 years ago as a student. A common story - he met a girl here, fell in love, married and has children who attend university here. The population of the city is about 1,000,000. Believe it or not, the city originated as a Roman outpost and there is a cathedral in town! There were actually ties to the old Roman Empire here. Agrippina, the mother of Nero and sister to Emperor Claudius was born here.
There was a Jewish community here. We saw an old synagogue being restored.
Also saw where the city put up barriers to prevent flooding from the Rhine.
Jeremy showed us pictures of different parts of the city right after they had been bombed during WWII.
Also saw the place where modern perfume was born - hence Cologne. It seems that two brothers invented a way to create alcohol without any odor. With that as a base, they were able to add scents creating eau de cologne - water of Cologne - what we know as perfume.
Tonight sailing, and tomorrow - Amsterdam! Because of the logistics of the last night - people packing and preparing to fly the next morning, they did a special farewell dinner tonight. Not really that special. It was pretty much the same as the other nights. Pretty good food.
We made sure to get pictures and exchange addresses with our new friends, the McQuades and the Westheims.
There was a Jewish community here. We saw an old synagogue being restored.
Also saw where the city put up barriers to prevent flooding from the Rhine.
Jeremy showed us pictures of different parts of the city right after they had been bombed during WWII.
Also saw the place where modern perfume was born - hence Cologne. It seems that two brothers invented a way to create alcohol without any odor. With that as a base, they were able to add scents creating eau de cologne - water of Cologne - what we know as perfume.
Tonight sailing, and tomorrow - Amsterdam! Because of the logistics of the last night - people packing and preparing to fly the next morning, they did a special farewell dinner tonight. Not really that special. It was pretty much the same as the other nights. Pretty good food.
We made sure to get pictures and exchange addresses with our new friends, the McQuades and the Westheims.
