Germany: One Weekend in Köln

A few weekends ago, me and four friends, we went to Germany for a weekend. As you can see from the post’s title, we went to Cologne (or Köln, in German). We went there mostly because of the Christmas markets that the city organises every year. And I must say that I was super excited to go to Germany because it is something that I’ve been wanting to do for years and years. And I finally did it – it’s a shame that it was just for about 24h.

It took us a while to figure out that we were already in Germany because inside a train, there’s no way of knowing if you’ve crossed the border or not. We only came to that conclusion after seeing a couple of German flags and car plates. Even though we travelled in an international train, I’m pretty sure that it was a German train or something. We travelled in 2nd class but damn that was very fancy for 2nd class carriages. I wonder how the 1st ones were.

To save as much money as possible, we stayed in the a youth hostel (kinda like what we call “pousadas da juventude” in Portugal). I’m not sure if it was just that one, or if they’re all like that in Germany, but damn, that look way much nicer than I ever expected. I must say that both the WC and the bathroom were much better than the one that I have in the student residence where I’m living (in the Netherlands).

Twenty-four hours isn’t much to get to know a city or to see much of it, but it’s always better than nothing, I guess. The city’s architecture is just beyond amazing, especially its cathedral – it’s so majestic and imposing. Either way, I left Germany with a god first impression of it. I really have to go back their – both the city (there’s plenty more to see) and the country.

And there’s a small (and stupid) story behind these photos. I was so worried that we could lose the bus to the train station, that I left my flat kinda in a rush, so what happened? I forgot my camera at home. I felt really stupid during the whole weekend because normally that’s the first that I take when I’m leaving home for a trip. But it all worked out. One of the girls lent me one of her cameras – one of those tiny ones – and that’s how I’m able to publish some photos about my weekend in Germany. The quality of the photos is not as good as that of my previous posts, but at least it gives you an idea of how my weekend was.

Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom)

Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom)

Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom)

Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom)

Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom)

Cologne Opera (Oper der Stadt Köln) – view from one of the Cathedral’s towers

View of the city from one of the Cathedral’s towers

View of the city from one of the Cathedral’s towers

View of the city from one of the Cathedral’s towers

View of the city from one of the Cathedral’s towers

View of the city from one of the Cathedral’s towers

@ Roman-Germanic Museum (Römisch-Germanisches Museum)

@ Roman-Germanic Museum (Römisch-Germanisches Museum)

@ Roman-Germanic Museum (Römisch-Germanisches Museum)

@ Roman-Germanic Museum (Römisch-Germanisches Museum)

@ Roman-Germanic Museum (Römisch-Germanisches Museum)

@ Roman-Germanic Museum (Römisch-Germanisches Museum)

@ Roman-Germanic Museum (Römisch-Germanisches Museum)

@ Roman-Germanic Museum (Römisch-Germanisches Museum)

@ Roman-Germanic Museum (Römisch-Germanisches Museum)

@ Roman-Germanic Museum (Römisch-Germanisches Museum)