The SABINA group visited the city of Cologne, Germany. It is the fourth largest city in Germany and has one of the largest populations of homosexuals (in case you wanted to know that). One of the best sites to visit is the bridge in Cologne that is COVERED in locks. Bike locks, old locks, new locks, small locks, big locks, chain locks, someone left their sock on the bridge as well. The people of Cologne have started a tradition that when a couple is truly and madly in love, they go to that bridge and place a lock on it to symbolize their everlasting love. The locks are of all shapes and sizes, most engraved with the names of the lovers that placed them there before throwing away the key into the Rhine River, making it impossible to break this symbolic bond of love. Not exactly your typical Romeo and Juliet, but more like Heidi and Klaus in a modern Germanic city. Either way, the view of the millions of locks is impressive and definitely gives some character and personality to a city that seems to have so much of it!
Of course, while in Cologne, we visited the magnificent Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom), which survived very extensive bombing during the Second World War. Also not to be missed in Cologne, are the statues of Tünnes and Schäl. The statue of Tünnes depicts a redheaded foolish, man with a very large nose and wooden shoes. It is said that if you rub his nose, you will receive a free wish and by rubbing his wooden shoes, you will become immensely rich. Naturally of course, our entire group was compelled to rub the statue of Tünnes for free wishes and boatloads of money. Yet, Tünnes is depicted as a fool and is called “Tünnes” to show his stupidity, as if to say it is foolish to rub a statue for anything in the first place! Schäl, on the other hand, is cross-eyed and considered to be very untrustworthy. Therefore, you may rub his statue for luck, but it may not be guaranteed. This presents an interesting dilemma and challenges a person to choose which inanimate object he or she will rub.
Written by: Laura Blackerby
