SUNDAY'S SPECIAL SPOT - COLOGNE CATHEDRAL, GERMANY

My first trip to Europe was with my dear friend Izabela. After spending three weeks in England I met up with her in Amsterdam. That began our super fast fun 3.5 week tour of The Continent. One of our stops was in city of Cologne (Koln), Germany. The hostel we stayed in was on one side of The Rhine River and we crossed a bridge twice daily. One our way to the city centre we would amble past the stately gothic Cologne Cathedral. This stunning building that took centuries to build looms along the Rhine and is a source of pride for its cities inhabitants. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is one of the most visited sites in all of Germany. 

Although I found the exterior intricate and stunning, it was the inside that wowed me. Ornate, elaborate and a bit foreboding I found myself looking skyward to its detailed ceilings, in awe of the art of its architecture. A small person in a giant world. 

Photo credit: Flickr - Sanjib Behera

SUNDAY'S SPECIAL SPOT - PIHTIPUDAS CHURCH (FINLAND)

It was my momma's birthday yesterday! So in her honour I am posting a photo of the church that is well known in her home town. She grew up in the region of Central Finland, in the small village of Pihtipudas. As a child I can remember her lovingly working on a needlepoint project of this very church. She told me how lovely it was and that she had fond memories of it. One day I will visit this church that holds a spot in my mother's heart (even though I myself am not religious) to honour her.

Pihtipudas Church

This area of Central Finland (Keski-Suomi) has numerous lakes, 140 in all. The village also entertains an annual javelin carnival. I can not wait to visit. 

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons. Owned by Elijas Walteri