The Cologne Cathedral, which took 600 years to complete, exudes solemnity yet an air of gloom.

Photo & Text /Jimu

Hey lady, come on lady. Take a picture with me, open your wallet for me！Cause I am as handsome as Johnny Depp！


It was just after five in the morning when we slipped out into the night with the Lu family. “It’s been so long since I’ve been back in Taiwan—almost two years,” Bonn said at the Hbf platform. And yet, somehow, I was the one seeing them off. I had assumed Germans ran on clockwork precision, leaving no room for even a minute’s delay. But the empty platform told me that wasn’t always the case. It seemed to have started around July or August—the Deutsche Bahn’s southern-bound trains were often late.

In this stolen moment, it felt good to steal a few more words, to tease little Lu Manman. I joked, “He’s not gonna pinch my chin next, is he～?” And then—behold—he actually did！！！ My jaw dropped along with Lu Mom’s as we spun around to exclaim, “Lu Dad, what did you teach him！！！” To have my chin pinched by a fifteen-month-old—I… kid, you’re something else…


Though the Lu couple felt terribly sorry for dragging their guest out of bed so early and depriving them of proper rest, I was rewarded with a glimpse of Bonn just waking up. In the early hours, only bakeries were open. We popped open our umbrellas and moved through the dimly lit streets and alleys. As a lover of European bread, I was in heaven. I wouldn’t rest until I’d polished off at least two rolls per meal. Germany is truly the homeland of my taste buds.


Our stop in Cologne wasn’t long. After finding a locker in the massive station and squeezing our way out, the towering Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom) loomed immediately to our left. The sky remained glum, with occasional light rain. Against the grey backdrop, the sharply pointed black church exuded an indescribable solemnity tinged with eerie heaviness.

“Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom, full name Hohe Domkirche St. Peter und Maria), located in Cologne, Germany, is an undisputed iconic landmark of the city. Its 157-meter-high spires make it the second tallest church in Germany (after Ulm Minster in Ulm) and the third tallest in the world. It is also the third largest Gothic church globally (after Seville Cathedral and Milan Cathedral).”

Construction began in the mid-13th century, proceeding intermittently until it was finally completed in 1880 under Kaiser Wilhelm I. The project spanned over 600 years and continues to undergo renovations to this day. Art historians praise its flawless integration of all medieval Gothic architectural and decorative elements, leading UNESCO to designate it a World Heritage Site in 1996 (it was listed as endangered in 2004 but removed from the list in 2006).” — Wikipedia: Cologne Cathedral.

Staring up at the looming dark structure, I couldn’t immediately locate the entrance. Since I couldn’t find the way in, I decided to admire the scenery outside instead. The reliefs were exquisitely detailed, and I found myself reminiscing about tales of theology and knights.


After circling around, I eventually found the entrance. Not being deeply versed in architecture, I contented myself with knowing this was a prime example of Gothic style—and left the expert commentary to others while I focused on snapping photos.


When visiting churches, I love observing the devout faces of worshippers in prayer. Sitting behind one such person, I pulled out a postcard to jot down my thoughts in the moment.


I spotted a staircase leading to a mysterious corner—probably the basement? Though a bit scared, I decided to go down anyway. I mean, I’d come this far！As it turned out, it was just quieter down there—not scary at all XD.


Exiting the cathedral, I passed by this stunning floor-to-ceiling window (？), its light-filled glass simply beautiful. No matter how much darkness you must traverse, there will always be light ahead.


After admiring the solemn Kölner Dom, I checked the signs to see if I had time to visit nearby attractions. “Hey, lady！” Wait, was that directed at me？ “Come on, come here, lady！” Realizing the “easy target” had turned around, the Mad Hatter and the knight waved even more frantically, like Venus flytraps.

“Give me your camera！Let’s take a photo！Smile～” Clueless first-time visitor to Europe that I was, I went along with it and got my photo taken. Just as I turned to leave, I was stopped: “Money money～” Blunt, but even I couldn’t miss the message. When I asked how much, oh—the price was shockingly steep！ Without thinking too hard, I blurted, “But I just got to Germany…I’m worried I won’t have enough money to get home…” They graciously (？) offered a buy-one-get-one 50% off deal and reassured me, “It’s fine, lady！Don’t worry, lady！”


Well, as much as it stung a little, it was Johnny Depp, after all！！！ I figured I could afford this little lesson. Here’s to a commemorative song！Hey lady, come on lady. Take a picture with me, open your wallet for me！Cause I am as handsome as Johnny Depp！


Gloomy weather often brings to mind melancholic grey-toned memories. Once, a friend, exhausted at the end of a journey, felt lost over emotions given and uncertain about who they’d become—standing before Kölner Dom, they broke down crying uncontrollably. Many years later, they returned to the same spot, cradling their newborn child, their husband’s hand tightly clasped in theirs. “I never thought I’d come back here. Who could’ve imagined that back then.”

Belief may lead to disappointment, and upheaval can strike when least expected—but how could I not believe, when I think of the gaze she shared with her husband? I believe in the infinite possibilities of the future.


Time flows, carrying moments we must stoop to gather and never forget. Who among us doesn’t lean on the past while gazing toward the distance? A traveler’s eyes see the world.

II Fleeting Light, Fleeting Memories —This is Jimu’s blog.