The Musings of Clio: Scenic and Gorgeous Germany

Weihnachtsmarkt in Cologne

Finally, my dream of traveling to Europe came true. I took a 14-hour flight (not counting the 2-hour stopover in Abu Dahbi) from Manila to Düsseldorf in December of 2012. Having lived in a tropical country all my life, I was excited of spending a white Christmas so I prepared winter clothes since September. I was half an hour delayed in my arrival in Düsseldorf and a bit paranoid that my luggage might go missing (after my dad told me horror stories of luggage getting lost). Turns out, I won't have a white Christmas after all, as Germans said that 2012 was one of the warmest winters they have experienced. It was 12 degrees outside and they felt warm, whereas I was shivering.

Lovelocks along the Hohenzollernbridge

My first stop was Cologne, so I dropped by the Cologne Cathedral. We walked along the River Rhine passing hundreds or even thousands of love locks lining the Hohenzollernbridge. Since it was Christmas, the cathedral square was packed with locals and tourists alike visiting the big Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas Market). Christmas Markets go way back to the late Middle Ages in German-speaking countries in Europe. Popular stalls sell hot kakao, mulled wine, toys, books and the famous Aachener printen (pastries from the city of Aachen, Germany).

Inside the Cologne Cathedral

The Cologne Cathedral is one of the most beautiful structures I have ever seen. A statue of the blessed Virgin Mary can be seen in the entrance. Upon entering the impressive structure, you will see the medieval statue of St. Christopher welcoming visitors. On the south side of the cathedral, five beautiful stained glass windows can be seen. These were given by Ludwig I of Bavaria. It's a sight to behold when the sun's rays hit it, displaying different colors inside the cathedral.

Cologne Cathedral from the train station.

Kinder...one of the popular chocolate brands in Germany.

A trip to the Imhoff Schokoladenmusuem is a must for chocoholics around the world. Visitors can try their hand in creating their own chocolate by signing up to the museum's chocolate-making sessions. My fiance and I bought a huge heart-shaped Lindt chocolate but we didn't have the heart to eat such a pretty thing. Also, visitors will be treated to wafers dipped in fresh molten chocolate in the room where chocolate production is shown.

The Bahkauv

But my favorite German city so far is medieval Aachen. Considered as Emperor Charlemagne's seat of power, it has been the place of coronation of German kings and queens. Aachen is known as a spa town and for its many fountains. Each fountain has its own story. My favorite is the Bahkauv (maybe because I see it everyday when we explore the city). The Bahkauv is a mythical creature that is a cross-breed of a calf (or sometimes panther) and a dragon. It is said to pounce and attack drunk men coming out of pubs.

A panorama of Aachen, on top of the viewing deck in the Netherlands.

The Shrine of Mary

A trip to Aachen is not complete without visiting the Aachen Cathedral. It is considered the oldest church in northern Europe and it houses the remains of Emperor Charlemagne and the Shrine of St. Mary which contains four of the important relics of the Christian world: the Virgin Mary's cloak,Christ's swaddling clothes, John the Baptist's beheading cloth and Christ's loincloth. As was the tradition since 1349, these relics are taken out of the shrine and put on display every seven years during the Great Aachen Pilgrimage. The relics were last put on display in 2007.

Although, I have only seen three cities in Germany (Cologne, Aachen and Essen), I am looking forward to coming back and see Schloss Neuschwanstein of King Ludwig II in Bavaria, the Benedictine convent in Tutzing and so much more. I also intend to visit other countries in Europe like Italy (Rome, Florence, Venice, Pisa), France (Paris, Provence), the UK, Austria, Spain and Portugal.

Here are more photos from my trip.