Viking Cruise #11: Cologne's Stumbling Stones, Dwarves and Dunkin!

Today's blog about our Viking River Cruise on the famous Rhine River takes us to Cologne, Germany and we'll tell you about the memorial reasons behind "Stumbling Stones," Dwarves and on an upbeat note of Dunkin'!

(Photo: Rob and Tom found a Dunkin in Cologne, Germany!! Awesome!!!) 

STUMBLING STONES - While touring the city, our guide pointed out gold-colored, engraved blocks in front of certain buildings. We learned they marked a horrible history.

Scattered throughout Europe, planted in city streets and sidewalks, more than 70,000 commemorative brass plaques eternalize the lives that were lost in the Holocaust. Called the Stolpersteine (in English: “stumbling stones”), the plaques commemorate the victims of the Nazi regime. They marked houses where Jewish people lived and were dragged out and kidnapped by the Nazis. Just a horrific image. 

WHAT'S WRITTEN ON THEM? The inscription on each stone begins “Here lived”, followed by the victim’s name, date of birth, and fate: internment, suicide, exile or, in the vast majority of cases, deportation and murder.

WHO CREATED THEM? According to the Guardian newspaper, the idea was first conceived by artist Gunter Demnig in Cologne in 1992 as part of an initiative commemorating Roma and Sinti victims of the Holocaust. He installed the first Berlin Stolperstein four years later.

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DWARVES & THEIR FOUNTAIN! - The Heinzelmännchen (German pronunciation: [ˈhaɪntsl̩ˌmɛnçɛn]  are a mythical race of creatures, appearing in a tale connected with the city of Cologne in Germany akin to gnomes, or elves. One of the interesting sights to see when visiting Cologne is the Heinzelmännchen fountain. The Heinzelmännchen are actually supposed to be little gnome creatures that come out at night to do all of the work of the citizens of Cologne, allowing them to be lazy during the day.

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DUNKIN DONUTS!! - Everywhere we travel, it's my (Rob) personal goal to visit a Dunkin' Donuts, and we found one in Cologne! I was SO HAPPY. Finally, I got to taste my favorite coffee on the trip. I had a large black coffee and a chocolate donut to celebrate. This made my day more than learning about the dwarves!!

NEXT: Old Roman Road, German Chocolate, and an Ancient Restroom