There’s a feeling that fills your chest when you round that corner, or take that step out of the train station in Cologne. The first and most undeniable structure in the heart of the city is the Cologne Cathedral – majestic, impossible and awe-inspiring. It claims your every thought and emotion with its sheer size, then slams its hooks into your heart with its gothic spires, stained-glass windows and grotesque gargoyles. You’ll always kind of shiver when you recall this place, never fully capable of wording what it is you felt in the cathedral’s shadow. And an enormous shadow it is.

I’ve been to Cologne (Köln) three times now and I’ve stood at the foot of that monolithic building each time, wondering how it’s even possible that people could have built it. The Kölner Dom does not fail to claim my breath.

It’s no secret that I’m a bit of an architecture geek, with a special love for the gothic style, so you can imagine how I melt when I get to breathe the air between those arches. What makes these visits even more special, though, is that expression on someone else’s face when they first see the cathedral. The Groenewalds did not fail to deliver in this department.

Afterwards, we visited the Ludwig Museum, where we viewed some modern art. It brought a lump to my throat to be face-to-face with a Piet Mondrian, to see the very first Picasso we’d ever discussed in art class, and being close enough to touch some of Claes Oldenburg’s installations. It also made my day when Emily held my hand and shared her ideas about the art with me. Make a note about that one, folks, she’s a natural artist and you’ll hear her name again in a few years time. 🙂

If you’d like to learn more about the artists featured in this post, head on over to Artsy. They have loads of information and photos available of various artists and artworks, and is seriously a great resource for any art-lover.

See you Friday.

Yolandie