We've all heard about Cologne in the past few weeks. Unfortunately, what we've heard and seen has been nothing but negative information concerning the mass sexual assaults on New Years Eve. I was there a day before it happened. Without wanting to deny this event, I want to convince you that Cologne is safe. I want to tell you Cologne is beautiful. I fell in love with Kölle, with the kindness of its people and the cool vibe of this, the fourth largest city in Germany.
I would recommend a visit to Cologne to anyone. Let me tell you why.

1. Cologne Cathedral
Every adjective you can think of falls short to describe der Kölner Dom. As soon as I left the main train station (which is conveniently located right next to the Cathedral) I was blown away by its size and grandeur. It was an impression that will never leave me. The construction of the Cathedral in Gothic style began in 1248 and was finished in 1880. However, a few years after its completion the restoration process began. The people of Cologne joke that if one day the Cathedral is completed, it would be the end of the world.  It also houses the reliquary of the Magi, making it an important pilgrimage site for Christianity. What's even more amazing is how they managed to keep a unity in style throughout the construction. It's simply unbelievable!

A view from the top of Cologne Cathedral.

Cologne Cathedral.

Cologne Cathedral.

 
2. Art, art and more art
Are you an art geek just like me? Then, you are at the right place! With spaces such as the Messe, the Ludwig Museum and the Kolumba, Cologne is a major cultural and artistic hub in the country. Want to get lost for hours contemplating paintings, sculptures and other artworks from every possible artistic movement you can think of? I ensure you Cologne will not disappoint you.

Kolumba Art museum.

Kolumba Art museum.

3. Martinsviertel or shall I say veedel?
The Altstadt or Old Town of Cologne, the Martinsviertel, is probably one of the cutest and most compact I've ever visited. The colourful and quaint buildings and pretty alleyways all seem to lead to the not so distant Cathedral, which can be seen from everywhere in the city. How could I forget my morning strolls towards Great Saint Martin church? Every step I took guaranteed the discovery of yet another interesting feature of this Romanesque structure.

Martinsviertel.

Great St. Martin church.

Great St. Martin church.

Martinsveedel.

This place <3

4. Kölle Alaaf!
The Carnival, also known as the fifth season, is perhaps the most important event in Cologne. Attracting countless tourists from all over the world, the celebration is an excuse for people to take the streets wearing their coolest costumes and drink, dance and enjoy. The festivities are inaugurated by the phrase 'Kölle Alaaf', which is in Kölsch (the local dialect) and is a call for everyone to forget about their occupations and be crazy for a couple of days. Sounds like the coolest thing to me!

5. Amusement in the Belgian quarter or Schäl Sick, you decide!
Both the Belgian quarter and Schäl Sick have developed into the trendiest districts of this city. In the Belgian quarter all the street names refer to Belgian provinces and cities. The heart of this part of town is the Brüsseler Platz, or Brussels square, which in warm summer nights is flooded by hundreds of people.
The Schäl Sick, a term from the Kölsch dialect, refers to the bad side of the Rhine: the right-hand side of the river. Originally, the Romans only conquered the left side and the river itself constituted the natural barrier of the Empire. The Christians of the left side saw the inhabitants of the right side as Barbarians. The Schäl Sick is today one of the coolest places to have drinks or eat out with some magnificent views of the city skyline dominated by the Cathedral.

Belgian quarter.

6. Energy from the Rhine
Cologne takes its energy from the Rhine. Every single one of my walks along the Rhine was accompanied by an energising sensation, almost like being born again. I remember as a child staring at the Rhine and feeling  a sensation of peace and tranquility. I guess some things never change.

Winter light over the city from the right-hand side of the river.

7. Bitte ein Kölsch und Rievkoche!
Cologne wouldn't be Cologne without Kölsch. And Kölsch is not only a dialect, it is also a beer that is only brewed here. Kölsch is served in special glasses too. Called Stange, these glasses look more like glasses for juice to me. What a better way to drink your Kölsch than having it with Rievkoche? This is the word in the dialect for Reibekuchen, potato cakes! Potato cakes are a delicacy and one of the staple dishes of Cologne cuisine. Don't forget to try them!

8. Joie de vivre of Kölle
The people of Cologne surely know how to live and enjoy. It is quite rare to find this in a big German city; Cologne strikes the visitors for having a lively, open and vibrant spirit. Here, strangers turn into friends. Like that time I was having dinner by myself at a restaurant and the waitress told a guy at the bar to sit with me. This is how I met Shane, a filmmaker from America who lives in Hong Kong! You really meet the nicest people when you least expect it.

9. Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium
If you wan't to dig deeper in the history of the city, then you should pay a visit to the Romano Germanic museum. This archaeological museum narrates the story of Cologne from the times it was the Roman settlement Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium. The site occupies the space of a former Roman villa and boasts the impressive remains of the Dionysus mosaic, found and kept in its original place in the basement of the museum.

10. Always a time to unwind
This is part of the mindset of people from Cologne. There will always be a time to unwind and enjoy life. In no other big German city you can feel this as in Cologne. People will always have time for a Kölsch, for another joke or for a walk along the Rhine. Before heading to the station to catch my train back home, I stood in front of the Cathedral to admire its grandeur one last time. My thoughts were interrupted by the conversation between two guys behind me. "Gehn' wir 'ne trinken?", one of them told the other one. This translates as "Let's go have a beer". It was 10 am and these guys already wanted to go for a Kölsch. Ladies and gentlemen, that's the spirit of Cologne!

Unwinding Cologne style.

Cologne <3

Cologne <3