COLOGNE AROUND THE STATION

When I visited my old schoolfriend from 1951 (!) we wanted to make a tour in Cologne. It had been a long time I hadn't been in Cologne which I had known in my childhood. But then it looked completely different as it had been severely damaged during WWII and there were still a lot of ruins around.



We left the car outside and took the train and as in each city here too street "artists" had done their work.



My beloved Rhine looked all grey



I didn't recognize the station at all it had been completely renovated








I tried to make more pictures but it was impossible, the wind was so strong that you could hardly walk !



But I could take a picture from the Rhine



In front of the station I saw this huge "tent" looking like building. It was the Musical Dome which is a unique theater because of its extraordinary glass and concrete construction and at the same time an architectural landmark directly on the Rhine River promenade. 





The market  place and the shopping streets hadn't changed



I noticed a new statue of a singer who only sang about Cologne with very funny texts. He also had composed the most famous carnival songs.



Want a Rolex ??





We then had lunch in an old Brewery near the Dome.



One thing I have to say, I have never seen so many sorts of cake, cookies, or bread like in Germany





The Roman Germanic Museum.

Unfortunately we couldn't do more, it simply was too stormy and cold.

more participants here

WEEKEND REVIEW MARCH 11

Finally this weekend spring pointed the tip of its nose it was warmer and the sun tried to make holes in the clouds.

A good opportunity to go through the car wash to make my car white again and get rid of the salt they had put on the streets.

With my "new" looking car I drove to a place where new condominiums had been built, again a piece of land gone. A friend of mine had bought a flat there. I found this place terrible, there was nothing not even a tree, just 2 buildings with a view on fields and behind the train. I thought it was not very well thought of her, she is 76 and her health is not the best. There are no shops no public transport, I could have understood if she was 40 ! It was not a question of money, she could have bought something nice and close to shops etc. I haven't seen the flat inside because she wasn't there.



At that age one should think where to spend the rest of their lives in a nice and practical place where you eventually don't need a car !



In my neighbor's front yard I saw the first blooming flowers of this year !!

Sunday I went to the retirement home where we have our painting classes. This time the city had organized a "give away", as it does twice a year. People who have too much book a stand and display their things, and those who need things are coming to choose what they need. It's totally free of course.



Despite the wonderful warm spring weather there were many people and the clothes, baby stuff, books etc went away quite quickly. I was only there to keep company to my friend Mirella who is also my painting teacher. It was very nice we met a lot of people we knew.

Rest of the afternoon I spent with Nicole, her daughter and granddaughter sunbathing on her patio.
We all really needed the sunshine and the light.