Although it would have been nice to conduct research in a more central part of Germany, I am instead based in Aachen, North-Rhine-Westphalia (a German state).
While North-Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) is the largest state in Germany, it does not contain such big-name tourist destinations as Berlin and Munich. However, there are still many attractions that are still quite impressive.
After convincing another person to go with me, I took a train to Köln (Cologne)--the fourth largest city in Germany. The morning started out quite chilly, but by the time we got to Köln, the sun was beaming, and it was quite hot outside. One tip: European weather is tricky. Always be prepared for everything possible.
Once we got off of our train and walked outside the train station, we were greeted by one of the most marvelous cathedrals I had ever seen. I heard that the cathedral, Kölner Dom, was really close to the train station, but I did not expect it to only feet away!
This behemoth of architecture, which took 600 years to complete, is impossible to fit into one camera shot, no matter how hard you try. What is astounding is not only its gargantuan size but the fact that so many parts of the cathedral have such intricate designs. The spires are feathered, bearing a striking resemblance to trees bursting into the sky, and on each small crevice of the cathedral, a distinct statue can be found.
Inside the cathedral’s main chambers there was a scent of incense wafting through the air and loads of tourists. The ceilings were high, cause the entire cathedral to exude grandeur. Because it took so long to complete the construction of the cathedral, it is possible to see the various artistic trends that were in vogue when a particular part of the cathedral was being built.
I was also amazed not only by the scale of the cathedral but the fact that it is so old. If this structure is so impressive in modern times, I can hardly imagine how people in much earlier times must have felt seeing it. I believe the only thing comparable would have been the Tower of Babel, as ironic as that is.
The cathedral itself is best described as monstrous, and some of the treasures inside could also fall under this category. There were statues, caskets, and various golden items so lavishly decked out in jewels that the medieval priests carrying these around would have put any modern rapper's collection to shame.
