Cologne
Care for a Spritz?
We landed in Amsterdam and took the train to Cologne. Cologne was born in Cologne. It was created by an Italian and he named it after the city he lived in which was Cologne. It came to be known as a catch phrase for scent that dissipates quicker than perfume. The name of the cologne he invented was 4711. The neon sign in the train station reads, “Real Cologne Water”.
Do these spires inspire?
Do you think of heaven or God? Does your soul scream eternal life in heaven? Even before you step out of the station, the spires are watching you through the roof, ready to leap out and catch you unawares with their massive height and sheer drama. It really is impressive.
This magnificent example of Gothic architecture is a UNESCO World Heritage Site . As if there was ever any doubt. The Cathedral is 777 years old this year (2025).
“Ya Wanna Piece of me?!”
The bridges are gone, the buildings are finished, and yet there stands the blackened cathedral with its spires pointed directly at heaven probably until the end of time. Quite probably the bricks and mortar are silently screaming, “Ya wanna piece of me?!” Talk about indestructible. The Royal Air Force (RAF) bombed the city 262 times starting in 1940, and dropped 35,000 tons of bombs in total. Twenty thousand civilians died.
Gargoyles
I like gargoyles. The word gargoyle comes from the Old French word gargouille meaning throat. Originally, they were fancy waterspouts that carried rainwater away from the building. Over time they transformed into some pretty weird stuff.
This one is from a Cathedral in Braga, Portugal. This cathedral was consecrated in 1089.
I can imagine dirty rainwater spewing from this hole. Was the guy who carved this gargoyle a disgruntled employee? Did the priests not pay him enough? Is that a smile on the gargoyle’s face? And this is on a Cathedral, a house of God. This was all right? People come to church wearing their Sunday best, look up and see this asshole?
Some Gargoyles on the Cologne Cathedral
There are some anti-Jewish gargoyles on the Cologne Cathedral. This might be one of them. Are those long curled sideburns also known as peyot?
Herr H. K. Domschweizer
A domschweizer is a Cathedral doorkeeper or porter. I asked him what that means and he told me that “It’s like the ones at the Vatican only much, much lower”. He was yelling at people to take their hats off. He has a nice grimace. I don’t think he wants to be there.
Basilica of St. Kunibert
This church was completed one year before the construction of Cologne’s Cathedral began. It was so badly damaged during WWII that it took almost 50 years to reconstruct. This bronze portal is new. It was created between 1987 and 1990.
It’s fun to try and figure out what the bas reliefs are. Starting on the bottom left and moving clockwise: Adam and Eve, I don’t know, Jesus being baptized, Moses placed in the reeds, I don’ t know, The Last Supper, Cain and Abel, Noah’s Ark.
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