Though still based in Köln, most of our day was spent in Aachen - the second oldest city in Germany. We head to the oldest one tomorrow! We began our morning with a family game of soccer down by the Rhine.
From there we headed to the train station, intent on catching our train to Aachen. Inside the train station there was a nativity scene with the holy family placed in the bombed out shell of Köln. It was interesting to see and even more interesting to read the history of this creche. It has been displayed annually since 2005. The artist created it from a desire to "revive memories and also to tell young people about the experiences that their parents and grandparents had." The scenes surrounding the manger reflect the artist's recollection of his personal experiences.
We were met in Aachen by Irmgard, the Oma of Aglaia, an exchange student at BBA. Irmgard greeted us warmly and whisked us off to her house for a delicious lunch. We were touched by her thoughtfulness and attention to every detail to welcome us and especially the boys to her home. Following lunch, we took a short car ride to the drielandenpunt, where the German, Dutch, and Belgian borders meet. We took turns standing in the different countries and and racing to see who could visit them all in the shortest amount of time - Nicky won.
From there we went to see the cathedral in Aachen. It is not nearly as large as most of the other cathedrals we have seen on this trip, however the interior is astounding. Though it has been expanded and renovated over its 1200 year existence, some of the original church remains. It was here that Charles the Great aka Charlemagne aka Karl der Große was crowned emperor. It was used for coronations until 1562. The stone work and mosaics demonstrate the advanced skills of the craftsmen who painstakingly assembled the cathedral.
Today was the first day of the Weihnachtsmarkt! Aachen's entire pedestrian zone in the town center was filled with huts and booths offering Christmas specialties. Everything from roasted chestnuts to handmade creches was available. We all tried the printed, an Aachen specialty. It is similar to gingerbread but clearly has some special ingredients that set it apart. We had a lovely time at the market and finished our Aachen evening with a tour of the rathaus.
Once back in Köln we headed to one of several Weihnachtsmärkte in the heart of the Altstadt. This one stood apart from the others because of the enormous ice skating rink winding its way through the booths. The boys put on skates and Barb and I grabbed some Glühwein and headed up the stairs to a landing over the rink. We watched as the boys made their laps. It was a joy to see them skating with huge smiles plastered across their faces. It has been a long time since they last wore skates, and since they have been able to truly run free. The combination of both was evident in the exuberance with which they skated.
From there we headed to the train station, intent on catching our train to Aachen. Inside the train station there was a nativity scene with the holy family placed in the bombed out shell of Köln. It was interesting to see and even more interesting to read the history of this creche. It has been displayed annually since 2005. The artist created it from a desire to "revive memories and also to tell young people about the experiences that their parents and grandparents had." The scenes surrounding the manger reflect the artist's recollection of his personal experiences.
We were met in Aachen by Irmgard, the Oma of Aglaia, an exchange student at BBA. Irmgard greeted us warmly and whisked us off to her house for a delicious lunch. We were touched by her thoughtfulness and attention to every detail to welcome us and especially the boys to her home. Following lunch, we took a short car ride to the drielandenpunt, where the German, Dutch, and Belgian borders meet. We took turns standing in the different countries and and racing to see who could visit them all in the shortest amount of time - Nicky won.
From there we went to see the cathedral in Aachen. It is not nearly as large as most of the other cathedrals we have seen on this trip, however the interior is astounding. Though it has been expanded and renovated over its 1200 year existence, some of the original church remains. It was here that Charles the Great aka Charlemagne aka Karl der Große was crowned emperor. It was used for coronations until 1562. The stone work and mosaics demonstrate the advanced skills of the craftsmen who painstakingly assembled the cathedral.
Today was the first day of the Weihnachtsmarkt! Aachen's entire pedestrian zone in the town center was filled with huts and booths offering Christmas specialties. Everything from roasted chestnuts to handmade creches was available. We all tried the printed, an Aachen specialty. It is similar to gingerbread but clearly has some special ingredients that set it apart. We had a lovely time at the market and finished our Aachen evening with a tour of the rathaus.
Once back in Köln we headed to one of several Weihnachtsmärkte in the heart of the Altstadt. This one stood apart from the others because of the enormous ice skating rink winding its way through the booths. The boys put on skates and Barb and I grabbed some Glühwein and headed up the stairs to a landing over the rink. We watched as the boys made their laps. It was a joy to see them skating with huge smiles plastered across their faces. It has been a long time since they last wore skates, and since they have been able to truly run free. The combination of both was evident in the exuberance with which they skated.
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