Pfingsten

This week had been Pentecost break, and it has been relatively low-key for me. I finally went to Cologne and explored it to more of an extent than just the zoo and the movie theater. What a cool town! I went with a group of my friends from Michigan (turns out I'm not the only person who didn't have travel plans for our week off) to just check it out a little more. We climbed to the top of the Dom, and the views were totally worth the 3 Euro and 533 steps that it cost to see them. But climbing up a narrow spiral staircase is kind of difficult when there are also people who are coming down the same staircase. After exploring the lower part of the cathedral and working up an appetite on the ascent and descent from the tower, we had lunch at a Kölsch brewery that was right near the Dom. Kölsch is a local beer that is brewed in Cologne (Köln is the German name for the town...get it?). The food was delicious, and exactly what I needed after the climb.
After lunch, we went to the zoo. I had just as much fun there this time as I did on my first visit. I got to see some of the animals that I didn't see the time before, and we explored the aquarium after we finished our hike around the zoo. After the zoo/aquarium visit, most of us headed back home. Becky stayed behind to meet a friend who was from Cologne. It was excellent weather and a good day to walk around outside as much as we did.
The rest of break, I didn't really do anything. I just kind of relaxed and enjoyed the nice weather. It is finally starting to get warm here instead of being cloudy and rainy every day. However, it kind of skipped spring and went right to summer. Not that I'm complaining, though. I laid out last Saturday and got a sunburn, so afterwards we went to buy sunscreen and aloe vera. I also bought sunglasses since I didn't have any.
On Monday morning, we leave for Berlin. We have a 7:15 am meeting time, because the bus is leaving at 7:30. That's kind of not fun since we don't have class, but it should prove to be a fun week. I might try and do some digging to see where my German ancestors come from while I'm there. But I'm not sure if I'll have time.
Anyway, pictures from Cologne. I won't post any more zoo pictures because I already have, but I will post al the Dom pictures.

Well, that's about it for now. Have a great week!
Maddie