⛪ “Stone Reaching Heaven: A Morning at Cologne Cathedral”

#summervacay The first thing you feel at Cologne Cathedral is small. The second is silent awe. Its twin spires slice through sky and time—so tall, so intricate, you instinctively look up and forget the noise of the world. I arrived early, before the tour groups and school kids. The plaza was quiet, birds circling like whispers above. Stepping inside, I was swallowed by shadow and stained glass. Gothic arches soared, each one a silent prayer in stone. The sunlight hit the windows and poured down in colour—ruby, gold, indigo—painting the pews like a mosaic of light. I sat for a long while. No photos, no rush. Just the echo of footsteps and the hush of something ancient. Climbing the tower was another kind of reflection—509 spiraling steps into wind and view. At the top: Cologne’s rooftops, the curve of the Rhine, and a feeling like standing between centuries. This isn’t just a cathedral—it’s an act of devotion frozen in architecture. Outside, the square had come alive. Musicians played. Locals biked past. I grabbed a coffee and watched the spires fade into the midday light, as if they were part of the sky.