Cologne

Cologne is one of the very oldest cities in Germany. At one time it was the capitol of a Roman Province. It was also a member of the Hanseatic League, a group of cities from London to Novgorod that traded and provided security for each other in the 13^th to 17^th centuries. Being a big rail center, it was devastated in World War II and much of city was rebuilt in the old style. There are many museums with many themes and you can find Roman relics as well as beer museums among them. Just a few steps upriver from where our boat docked there was a museum dedicated to chocolate and another for sports.

Kolner Dom or the Cologne Cathedral or The High Cathedral of St. Peter is the most visited site in Germany. An average of 20,000 people visit there every day. The construction was started in 1248, but only completed in 1880 using the original plans with the help of some modern material. It is almost as wide as one football field and 50% longer than that. The twin towers are 515 feet tall. During the construction a crane on the southern tower remained in place while work was suspended for 400 years. So much for the fast data, it has to be seen to be believed. It dominates the skyline and can be used as a marker for airline pilots.