Köln, North Rhine-Westphalia
Gutentag der freunds
This story actually started in my journal of January of 2010, but if we fast forward to summer 2013, and furthermore — it would flow better.
Often when travelling, you meet people who you spend a night with and it doesn’t mean to much, then you see them on the morning sitting about the accomodation, then you mutually decide to hang out again, and again, to the point you actually become pretty good friends.
I had only heard of Cologne, Germany, through an exchange student from high school, whom of which was actually from Berlin, but we spoke of Deutschland as a whole.
The city once started by the Heinzelmännchen - a tiny mythical garden gnome, and enjoyed by the common folk, Köln to how I knew it was filled with fantastic Biergartens and many groups of wonderful people enjoying them.
So much food, one would struggle to float in the Rhine River, and a cathedral that every time you are at the base of it, you struggle to realise how big it actually is.
A building so large, I don’t think I managed to get the whole structure in one frame.
Apart from the kölsch that manages to disappear from the glass in the matter of minutes, one thing that lured me back to the city many times over a few years was the people, and some people in particular.
Throw it back to that night in Melbourne City, where I got talking to a brother and sister traveling Australia on a gap year.
Brother and sister, better known as Jonas and Elena, would buy a van and travel the country in its whole, before returning to the capital of Victoria to bunker up, sell the van and head home to Germany.
I promised I would visit them one day, and with many emails and messages in conversation, European summer 2013, when tripping about trying to work myself out, I went to Köln and instantly fell in love with the place.
And again mid summer 2014, then again in each year before leaving Europe at the end of 2020.
The Alef’s, incredibly took me in as one of their own. Amazing family. Beautiful memories. Wonderful home, about 20 minutes out of the city. Their parents are so caring, just being in the presence of them was everything.
“A base for you, when visiting Europe”, Jürgen Alef explained his house to me.. even after we drank most of his Schreckenskamme and Reissdorf kölsch. Great times!
Elena would spare so much time to show me around the city, her boyfriend Arnout, took a lot of pride in explaining the culture and history, and to not drink your beer to quick as it was slightly disrespectful.
We walked the city inside out, visiting every corner possible. Rich in history, strong in leadership, creative for carnival.
Over the years we experienced by dawn, and dusk. Night clubs, traditional pubs, parties in the courtyard of a hospital (story for another day!), surprise birthday visits, campfire sing alongs, cathedral admiring.
One day I hope to repay them.
Elena and Arnout, if you are reading this, believe me when I say this note Is a token to use anything I own if you may visit New Zealand or wherever I may be one day.
I miss you guys and your fantastic city like crazy, from a joke and conversation at the back of a bar in Melbourne, to helping each other with life struggles, your family are mine, my family are yours.
Danke für lesen, Danke für alles, du bist wunderbar!!
Abend.
SBG
