Ice Cream Cone, Claes Oldenburg sculpture at the Neumarkt Gallerie in CologneSo I've been trying to think of things to do with my parents when they arrive for their state visit this Sunday. I know they're here to see the grandkids, but I think it'll only take about 24 hours to remind them again that in real life they are not as cute or smiley as they are on this blog, and they cry louder in person. I know they know that, but I think they (especially my mother) suffer from grandparent amnesia so I'm trying my bestest to ensure everyone has a good time...
In preparation I went on the Cologne tourism website earlier to get some inspiration and, lo and behold, it trumpets the fact that Cologne has been selected among the "44 places you should visit in 2009" - by the New York Times. Much as I love this city, it just goes to show such lists are complete and utter nonsense. Then again, Mike and Chelsea, your fair city of Buffalo ranks in this illustrious group as well! Chicago too, but that's more than understandable.
The gothic cathedral aside, there are a lot of pleasant things to see and do in Cologne, but they're hardly headline attractions on par with the Eiffel Tower or say the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. As the locals say, "Köln ist ein Gefühl"- Cologne is a feeling, and I'm afraid one that may be lost in the translation of constant rain and gloomy skies in March...
(Incidentally a lot of Cologne's written history was lost earlier this week with the collapse of the city archives. The painful project of adding a new subway line is currently being fingered as the culprit for weakening the building foundations. Lost under rubbles are documents dating back to 900AD, ranging from the works of Albertus Magnus to the literary estate of Heinrich Böll.)
In the end, I decided for half of their 10 day visit instead of trudging through downpours or getting stir crazy at home we're hightailing it outta here and heading to...Turkey! For this we've had to get Monchichi a passport already, and now that we're due to leave next Tuesday I'm wondering if this will be an easy trip in the sun or a complete logistics nightmare...you and I will have to find out!
In the meantime, keep thinking of them as cute and smiley
And the cold weather can be held at bay with some savoy cabbage rolls.
1 comment:
Ha- Buffalo on that list? That's all because of Niagara Falls, of course. They do need some serious tourism $ here in Buffalo as they can use just about any sort of income they can get hands on....Good luck with the Turkey trip - I wish I WAS there visiting you guys...
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