VISITING COLOGNE - THEN AND NOW

Part 7 of the series on Retracing Their Footsteps 

[Charles Sherlock with Richard Nebgen and his brothers in 1961]

Charles and Theresa Sherlock arrived in Cologne, Germany at 6pm on 30 May 1961. They met Richard [Nebgen] [son of Adolph Nebgen – Grandma’s paternal side] and his brothers – Gunter, Sieglinde and Alfous Nebgen. Altogether there were 12 people.  They had drinks, dinner and singing.  They then got into 4 cars [18 people by now – probably spouses and other relatives] for a tour of Cologne. They also took a walk on the promenade and then went to Richard’s house.  Later, Richard drove them back to their hotel – Hotel Augustinerplatz in Koln. “They are wonderful people" is what Theresa wrote in her travel diary. [This was probably the first time that Theresa had met her German Nebgen relatives.]

Before leaving Cologne the next morning, Charlie and Theresa visited the Kolner Dom, the Cologne Cathedral.  Grandma Theresa (she's in the light red coat in the photo) wrote in her travel diary, that this was the "most beautiful cathedral".  

The first time I viewed the slides of Grandpa Charlie's and Grandma Theresa's month-long trip to Europe in 1961, I was in awe of the photo of my Grandma standing in front of the grand Cathedral in Cologne.  As time passed, the Cathedral and the city of Cologne was not only placed on my "bucket list" but was placed near the top. So, you can only imagine how excited I was to visit the Kolner Dom on our Rhine River Cruise trip in 2015. 

We arrived at the Cathedral in Cologne (High Cathedral of St. Peter & Mary) at 10am on a Sunday [23 August 2015].  Since Mass was being celebrated in the Cathedral, we were only allowed to visit in the back of the cathedral. Since we couldn't visit more of the Cathedral that morning, we took a walking tour of the city.  Cologne was once a Roman settlement called "Colonia Agrippina".  Old Roman ruins remain in this city and we saw some of them.

After lunch, we had the opportunity to explore more of the Cathedral in Cologne.  We saw the beautiful stained-glass windows and ornate gold shrine on an elaborate altar.  I thought the Cathedral was very impressive.   I have read that this is the most visited spot by tourists in Germany.  I can understand why!

The Cologne Cathedral was started in 1248 but the construction was halted in 1473.  Then in the 1800’s the construction was once again started and finally completed in 1880. The Cologne Cathedral is the largest Gothic church in Northern Europe.

Of course, we took some photos re-enacting some of the ones my Grandma was in 1961.  I purposely brought a photo or 2 of my Grandma in front of this magnificent cathedral with me on the trip. I always liked this photo of her (in the red coat) in front of the Cathedral.  The problem was there were way too many people walking back and forth to take a photo where you would see us.  So instead we stood closer to where the photographer took the original photo.

From the two photos you will notice that things have changed.  There is no longer that small patch of grass in front of the cathedral.  Also, there is no longer a street in front of the cathedral but rather a "plaza" where people walk through or gather.

I loved my short visit to Cologne and to its magnificent cathedral!