Cologne / Köln

Cologne is the fourth-largest city in Germany - and one of the oldest. A Germanic tribe, the Ubii, had a settlement here, this was named by the Romans "Oppidum Ubiorum". In 50 AD, the Romans founded "Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium", the city then became the provincial capital of "Germania Inferior". In 2017 I could live in Cologne for some months, took photos and picked up stories. I will - from time to time - now add some photos from Cologne. Here is Rocky, the leading dog-parlour in the "Suedstadt", the most lively quarter of Cologne (imho!).

Cologne is the fourth-largest city in Germany - and one of the oldest. A Germanic tribe, the Ubii, had a settlement here, this was named by the Romans "Oppidum Ubiorum". In 50 AD, the Romans founded "Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium", the city then became the provincial capital of "Germania Inferior". I was told, search the EDELWEISS. I found it and so had found the entrance to the backyard, where Kunsträume ("art spaces") is located. The Michael Horbach foundation opened a gallery here in 2011, that has a very large photograhpic collection. Well worth a visit! www.michael-horbach-stiftung.de/art-spaces.html

Cologne is the fourth-largest city in Germany - and one of the oldest. A Germanic tribe, the Ubii, had a settlement here, this was named by the Romans "Oppidum Ubiorum". In 50 AD, the Romans founded "Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium", the city then became the provincial capital of "Germania Inferior". Uhlenbroch, located at the Severinstrasse, near Chlodwigplatz, is a good place to shop for venison and poultry,

Cologne is the fourth-largest city in Germany - and one of the oldest. A Germanic tribe, the Ubii, had a settlement here, this was named by the Romans "Oppidum Ubiorum". In 50 AD, the Romans founded "Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium", the city then became the provincial capital of "Germania Inferior". The specialist store "Honig Müngersdorff" offers honey and related products in the center of Cologne since 1847. The Müngersdorff-family runs this store in the 6th generation and meanwhile offers beekeeping supplies as well. www.honig-muengersdorff.de/

I'm witnessing the complete vanishing of gumball-machines. When I was a kid, these vending machines decorated every fourth or fifth facade. Cigarette-machines were just everywhere, as just everybody smoked. At least any male adult, I only remember female nonsmokers. Things changed. Even I had quit smoking nearly 20 years ago. And many others did, so that now after the gumball-machines, cigarette-machines entered the "red list of vanishing items". Obviously all public vending machines are used as places to leave messages. Young urban nomads are probably able to decipher and understand them.

The Melaten-Friedhof (Melaten-cemetery) is the largest cemetery of Cologne. The area is known since the 13th century. The name "Melaten" refers to a "maladerie", a hospital for the sick and lepers, that was here in medieval times. The cemetery exists since the early 19th century. Upto 1829 only Catholics got buried here. The vending machine offers candles and matches.

When I was a kid I loved these machines, as the gumballs sold here, were the very best for bubblegum bubbles. Unfortunately my parents neither liked bubblegum nor these vending machines... Though chewing gum is still popular, these vending machines are only raraly seen meanwhile. They should be on the "Red List of Threatened Dream Machines", in case this list does exist already.

Cologne, the fourth-largest city in Germany, has all kinds and styles of restaurants and eateries. Dialog is a greek restaurant, located at Alteburger Strasse in Cologne´s vibrant "Suedstadt" quarter. When I had lunch here, my favourite dish over noontime was "Grilled Sardines".

When I was a kid I loved these machines, as the gumballs sold here, were the very best for bubblegum bubbles. Unfortunately my parents neither liked bubblegum nor these vending machines... Though chewing gum is still popular, these vending machines are only raraly seen meanwhile. They should be on the "Red List of Threatened Dream Machines", in case this list does exist already.

When I was a kid I loved these machines, as the gumballs sold here, were the very best for bubblegum bubbles. Unfortunately my parents neither liked bubblegum nor these vending machines... Though chewing gum is still popular, these vending machines are only raraly seen meanwhile. They should be on the "Red List of Threatened Dream Machines", in case this list does exist already.

Cologne is the fourth-largest city in Germany - and one of the oldest. A Germanic tribe, the Ubii, had a settlement here, this was named by the Romans "Oppidum Ubiorum". In 50 AD, the Romans founded "Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium", the city then became the provincial capital of "Germania Inferior". -- During WWII Cologne was bombed in 262 separate air raids. The first ever 1,000 bomber raid by the RAF (codenamed "Operation Millenium") was conducted on Cologne in May 1942. In April 1945, when the American armee reached Cologne, the city was completely ruined. About 90% of all houses in the inner city were - gone. In 1939 Cologne had had a population of more than 700.00. In spring 1945 there were only about 40.000, living in the ruins. This video shows parts of the destroyed city www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_pQdzhdD50 -- That means, that there are not that many "complete" houses in Cologne older than 70 years. These one, near the Volksgarten Park, are very well restored, the buildings to the very left are from the 1950s and 1960s.

Cologne is the fourth-largest city in Germany - and one of the oldest. A Germanic tribe, the Ubii, had a settlement here, this was named by the Romans "Oppidum Ubiorum". In 50 AD, the Romans founded "Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium", the city then became the provincial capital of "Germania Inferior". A great motto. I´ll try that! At first I had the impression, that "Kleiderei", located at Venloer Strasse in Cologne-Ehrenfeld, was just another second hand / vintage shop, but it is not. Here people don´t buy but rent clothes. Flatrate! kleiderei.com/

Cologne, the fourth-largest city in Germany, has all kinds and styles of restaurants and eateries. Tobioka was my favourite japanese restaurant, when I lived in Cologne´s vibrant "Suedstadt" quarter in 2017. Very reasonable prized lunches are served here over noontime. www.tobioka.de ------ I found, that Tobioka has closed down, when I visited Cologne in 2018.

When I was a kid I loved these machines, as the gumballs sold here, were the very best for bubblegum bubbles. Unfortunately my parents neither liked bubblegum nor these vending machines... Though chewing gum is still popular, these vending machines are only raraly seen meanwhile. They should be on the "Red List of Threatened Dream Machines", in case this list does exist already.

Volksgarten is a large public park in Cologne´s Suedstadt, erected end of the 19th century, within an area, that was was used for fortifications before. In the center is a lake - and a beergarden. Served here are (bio!) beers from the small "Brauerei Hellers". Most typical is "Koelsch", the "endemic" beer in Cologne as only local breweries are allowed to use this name, but as well "Wiess. This smooth beer is similar to "Koelsch", but not filtered.

Cologne, the fourth-largest city in Germany, has all kinds and styles of restaurants and eateries. Schmidt is a butchery (since 1944), that meanwhile offers catering. Hearty lunches and burgers are offered here on weekdays. Escalope with potato salad. The yellow poster (left) is about a six day race - in December 1973.

Cologne, the fourth-largest city in Germany, has all kinds and styles of restaurants and eateries. Ludari, located in the vibrant "Suedstadt" quarter, offers best Italian food - and over noontime tasty pasta dishes are served here. Mille grazie, Ciro!

Cologne, the fourth-largest city in Germany, has all kinds and styles of restaurants and eateries. Stürmer is a large butchery, that has roadside tables in front of the shop and offers hearty lunches. Here is "Leber Berliner Art" (calf liver) with mashed potatoes and apple slices. www.metzgereistuermer.de/ Seen in the backdrop is the tower of the St. Severin church.