The mysterious Kölner Dom

Der Kölner Dom, aka the Cologne Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church. It is Germany's most visited landmark attracting an average of 20,000 people a day. Construction of Cologne Cathedral began in 1248 but mysteriously stopped in 1473, leaving it unfinished. Work mysteriously restarted in the 19th century and was completed to the original plan, in 1880. Its towers are approximately 515 ft tall, mysteriously.

Lindsay and I went shopping during the afternoon while Kate and Anna went with Sebastian to see his sister. Cologne has massive pedestrian streets that are FULL of shops. So many shops that the shops started to repeat. I thought we might be walking in circles. I saw about 4 H&Ms! We were feeling dizzy at this point so we stopped at the cutest cafe for tea.

We desperately wanted to climb to the top, which you can do, but only until 5pm....very unfortunately Kate and Anna couldn't meet us until 5:45... Oh well....we were well intentioned!

The inside was beautiful! There were stained glass windows all over the place and the ceilings were sky high.

After a very long day we stopped by a couple different pubs trying to find food. We finally found a great pizza place which was AMAZING. Tomorrow we catch an early flight to Berlin!

Bis Morgen!

Hello from Germany!!!

I made it to Dusseldorf from Newark in an easy 7.5 hours. I watched Breaking Dawn (Part II) and forced myself to sleep for a couple hours. I arrived at 6:10am Germany time (1:00am EST) and waited around for Anna and Kate--who were NOT there to greet me on time (what!!?)--and Lindsay who arrived at 8:40am. 

When I went through customs I was SO prepared to answer in Germany when they asked me why I was in the country. "Meine Freunde's JUNGESELLENABSCHIED!!!" (My friend's bachelorette party!!!). But even though I tried to look as shifty as possible, the customs man didn't even ask! I have been speaking lots of German though, EVEN when they tried to shut me up by talking back to me in english.

We left the airport and took the train to Kate's friend Chris's house and headed out for brunch. 

 

  

 

After that we took showers and packed up for our train to Cologne.

The trip was a quick 40 minutes. We were met at the train station by Kate's fiance, Sebastian, who greeted us with beers! Kolsch is Cologne's special brew.

 

 One of Sebastian's friends graciously let us stay at her apartment only one block (aka 7 blocks) from the train station! This may not sound like a big deal but Anna packed a bunch of bricks so it was a bit stressful (see all of Anna's bags below)

After arriving at the apartment we had a few more drinks (more Kolsch)

 

 Afterwards we walked to a nearby restaurant for a traditional German meal of chicken wings, bacon wrapped dates, french fries, and bread with goat cheese and honey. Also, a special treat thanks to Sebastian: champagne!

Cheers to Cologne!

Oh no! I am getting really sleepy! Opps I just fell asleep so I should go!

Thanks, Sebastian, for engaging Kate so we had an excuse to come out to Germany and party machen!

I miss you little blade!!

 

Tomorrow we head out for shopping and a visit to the famous Dom! Stay tuned!

Remembering the good times

As I get excited about my upcoming trip to Europe, I am sad that one of the other bridesmaids, Elizabeth, can't make it. This is sad because Kate, Elizabeth and I all became friends when we went to Germany in 2004 as part of a St. Olaf German course during our Interim.

We had way too much fun. We were underage in the United States and found ourselves in a country where we were not underage. We became very fast friends.

Kyla Kate and Elizabeth back in our St. Olaf Days:

And almost every year since (it's been almost 10 years!) we meet up with Kate and Anna in Red Lodge Montana either a week in the summer of for New Years Eve. Here is a quick back history.

Spring Break 2006 with Diana and our favorite bartender Richie!

Skiing in Red Lodge 2006

New Years 2007

New Years 2009

Summer 2009

Summer 2012: Kyla, Elizabeth, Kate, and Anna

 

Summer 2012: Lindsay, Anna and Kyla

The engaged couple: Kate and Sebastian

 

And since Anna is already overseas, here is a preview of what I am MOST looking forward to (after seeing my friends, of course......)

Junggesellenabschied!!!

Is German for bachelorette party!!! Why am I writing it in German?

Because in less than ONE WEEK I will be in Germany for this girl's bachelorette party!!!

Kate is one of my dearest, bestest friends from College. Remember last time I visited her??? 

We hung out in Berlin and Dresden and then on my last couple days her sister Anna joined us!

Even though we live across the world form one another, we still manage to see each other at least once a year. Last summer we had a blast in Red Lodge Montana for Anna's wedding! 

I have grown quite fond of this Anna over the years ever since I met her when she broke into my house through my window to move Kate's stuff OUT because Kate was subletting my room over the summer but failed to move out before I moved in! She was out of town and poor Anna, a brand new freshman, had to face me!

L to R: Lindsay, Kate, Anna, and Kyla

Look forward to some posts from our travels in Germany. Anna is already over there and me and Anna's best friend, Lindsay, will be leaving the States Monday night and arriving in Cologne Tuesday morning. We will then travel to Berlin for some major college flashbacks!

Kate and I actually became friends when we went to Germany for a month for a college course called 'german culture' or something, I don't really remember much except that it was one of the best trips of my life.

Auswiedersehen!!

Pups in the snow

This is too cute!

Blade has Lyme Disease!

Blade has Lyme Disease!

Lyme Disease! What are you doing here?

Blade fights Lyme Disease!

You tell it Blade!

Blade stares down Lyme Disease

Now they are friends. The end!

Hi from Blade

Blade wants to wish everyone a Merry Christmas!! He got a brand new toy from my roommate, Kathryn. He loves to lay on it.

The other day he met up with his friend Emma to play while Jessica and I exchanged gifts.

And I couldn't resist adding these pictures of him as a puppy, to remind the world of how cute he was/is.

Blade is the happiest pup I know. He smiles the whole time he is at the dog park.

 With that look we should have known he would turn out to be so mischievous

 Blade loved to play on the fire place!

 Asleep in his food bowl. Eating is tiring!