My vist to Cologne was at sunset when a most imposing sight from the Rhine was the Cathedral set with a blue sky in the background. Stayed with Hans and Heike Clooth who I knew from there trips with students to Ireland but in particular for a trip they made with their son Philip to Thomstown in Dec 2001. Their visit brought joy to one person in particular. They brought me out to visit Monica Toonger whom I had met before in Thomastown. Here is a photograph above from their patio as the sun sets. Monica is President of the Cork-Cologne Society and her husband Peter is Choral Director and a music publisher. When he wants to let his hair down what music does he love but that of Pat Boone. I thought he was joking at first. A lovely evening I spent there in their company. Hans like Peter is a lover of music and where else in Cologne could he send me but to the Saturn superstore which is reputed to have the largest collections of CD's in the world. I spent an afternoon there and it is joy to be in. Jazz is big there , the celler is devoted to it. Near Hans and Heike's house is a lovely church called St. Georans. Mass was when I was there.

Arriving in Cologne, I still recall a picture from my youth of this city in ruins after WW2 with the Cathedral standing upright amongst the bombed out buildings. It is still to-day an imposing sight.I climbed the 500 or so steps up to the belfry with Heike and below you can see some of the sights from this vantage point. The Portals at the entry are so impressive, you would wonder how long it took to carve them out. Inside also is the Altar to the Jewelry Madonna. there are thousands of candles lighting there and anyone seeking love or to have children can come there. After such a climb there was nothing better than some German beer in the brewery near the Cathedral. A real jolly place which was crowded when we arrived.

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