Köln day trip

I have done so much traveling to other cities these past few weekends that I practically forgot that I am living in Koln.  I did some research on fun free things to do in Koln as a tourist since this is my last weekend in Germany.

things I found from my research:

1. Cologne Cathedral
2. Rhine Promenade and Deutzer Bridge = crossing the river and taking the typical Koln photograph
3. Cologne City Hall
4. window shopping on Schildergasse (plus some real live shopping)
   
5. visit the birthplace of the Eau de Cologne (yes, the perfume)

also added to this list was visiting the Frei Otto Tranzbrunnen open air pavilion and swimming in the Stadionbad (the aforementioned giant public pool).

I am actually amazed that I hadn’t already walked across the Hohenzollern Bridge.  this bridge is train and pedestrian only and is directly in front of the cathedral.  I guess I never thought to walk across it since literally every train we have taken into Koln has brought us along the same route.

walking it is much different though.  there are hundreds of Love Locks attached to the bridge that people put on to symbolize their love.  I actually saw a couple carrying a lock across the bridge and stopping and chatting and then walking some more, trying to find the perfect place for their padlock.  it is really neat to see because there are so many different shapes and sizes and colors and almost all of them are engraved with at the very least initials.  it is lovely.

I crossed the Hohenzollern Bridge and walked to see the Frei Otto pavilion.  there was a big womens race getting ready to take place and lots of booths selling athletic equipment and stuff.  I sat down and watched a Reebok fashion show dance too.

it was too chilly today to go swimming.  I have my fingers crossed for tomorrow.