It was forecast to be the hottest day in several years, perhaps 97F. We responded by making it a very short ride into the city of Cologne and checking into an air conditioned hotel, even if it was an unromantic Marriott.
We took a guided tour of the Cologne Cathedral, which we thoroughly enjoyed. There is a lot to see we wouldn't have noticed without the guide. The church is named after St.Peter but the theme throughout is the Three Magi Kings. They have a large golden shrine with relics brought back from the Holy Land by crusaders representing the three kings. Particularly emphasized by the Holy Roman Emperors to associate themselves with Christianity. The church was begun in the 1200's, uncompleted in the 1500's when $ ran out. In the 19th century, after German unification, the Kaiser sponsored its completion as a matter of national pride, using the rediscovered original plans on parchment. For a time it was the world's tallest building.
I must mention the bees. Ever since we arrived in Europe we've been pestered by bees in great numbers while we ate outdoors, which means about always. It was alarming at first, but they were more interested in our food and drink than in us, and we gradually got used to them and brushed them away as we would flies. But today I drank one. I spit it out, along with a mouthful of lemonade, causing quite a stir. And at dinner this evening, while chatting about Donald Trump with a German sharing our table, he was stung on the arm. He said that the bees are a new thing this summer. We are being more vigilant about them now, and avoid insulting them.
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