Katie's parents came for a visit and put in some serious traveling. Naturally, our first trip was to Cologne for some window shopping, touring the Lindt chocolate factory, and eating and drinking at the Fruh Kolsch brauhaus. I slipped up on the order of events and planned the walk up the 509 steps to the top of the southern spire...after all of the shopping and beer drinking. Mea culpa. Bill and Dorothy made an excellent showing with 200 steps gained before the turnaround. Unfortunately, I was not there to assist because I only have one speed for going up stairs and it is somewhat brisk. Coupled to that is the fact that the only way to the top consists of a single spiral staircase, where descenders have the outside railing and about 2 feet of the step, and the ascender has about 1 foot of step that diminishes to nothing on the inside. Halfway up the spire hangs the largest free swinging bell in the world, named "Dicke Pitter" or "Thick (St.) Peter" in the local dialect. I was fortunate enough to be there for the "klang" and let me tell you it was LOUD. Katie and I had a rendezvous at the top viewing platform, where we checked out the remarkable 100 meter high view of the very horizontal city of Cologne.
2 comments:
I had no idea it was the largest free swinging bell in the world! We forgot the baby sling the day we went up the tower and Jason carried Judah. Thankfully we all made it to the top and back down without any injuries!
Shannon
This is great info to know.
Post a Comment