Deutschland 5 - Cologne (Köln)

i don't know what sort of city to put Cologne with, i.e. great city like London, Paris, Prague, Vienna, etc. or lesser city like Heidelberg, Liverpool, Salzburg, Nice.. my definition of a great city is that of a city which has at least a million people or is of utmost importance to the country, i.e. financially which is why Frankfurt and Milan i consider great cities coz without them Germany and Italy would be broke even if Frankfurt doesn't quite have a population of a million people..

Cologne does have a million people and it is fairly important as a transport hub between Belgium, France, the Netherlands with the rest of Germany and Central Europe and does have a big city feel with its long and wide shopping streets - i don't think even Munich's main pedestrian way from Karlsplatz to Marienplatz had as many people as this even if it is a bit wider than Cologne's Schindlerstrasse and Hof. it was Venice all over again especially on Saturday afternoon with literally the whole city out there doing their shopping in the trendy S Oliver and Karlstadt shops. there was always someone trying to walk into u or a pram getitng in the way or u were getting in the way of someone.. its Hauptbahnhof main train station is of a fairly decent size too if not quite as big as Frankfurt's or Berlin's (i didn't go there but heard the station has two decks for trains!)

but if it were to be considered a great city, there's no question that Cologne still has its own unique feel that you usually only find in small towns or Frankfurt especially in the traditional pubs.. I still don't know why kölsch is served in fifths, it must surely be a tradition or something to do with the drink that I don't know about.. and then there's the atmosphere.. have to admit have been a bit too many Irish/Anglo/Australian pubs in Europe simply coz most of the people there speak the same language and show Sky Sport and also for the atmosphere which is prob why there are a bit too many of them almost like McDonalds or Benetton shops.. think a Kölner pub would do alright as long as you can understand what the locals are singing.. i didn't but the music was still pretty fun and made for a truly local experience which I was glad to have rather than just another Irish bar with Guinness and Magners there if u want it..

so it's my last night in continental Europe..i fly from Dortmund to Luton tomorrow night and then from Heathrow the following morning to Singapore.. dont think will reminisce just yet.. but will have a good German meal tonight just to cap off a wonderful time in Europe!