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My week in Cologne, so far…

The week breezed by so quick I didn’t realize it’s been a week already. Had a great time here and wanted to share some pictures for friends back home.

As one of our Egyptian delegates would jokingly say “Here in Germany, they don’t have sun!” Well, that’s true during winter. I think for the entire week, I only saw some direct sunlight about 30 minutes in total. The rest of the week, it’s either dark or gloomy. The sky doesn’t light up until around 9am.

theodor-heuss-academy.jpg

We’ve got people coming in from all over — Ghana, South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Jordan, Algeria, Turkey, Honduras, Panama, Argentina (Joaquin Vocos), Brazil, Serbia, Bulgaria, Pakistan, Malaysia (Khay Peng Koo), Indonesia, Thailand (Orarick), Cambodia (Sokunthea Kung Keo), Germany and India (Seppi Sebastian). That’s why we got flags to waive around — easier to remember the countries than their names.

Food Germany

Loved the food. Buffet table is always packed with interesting menu, though half the time we always had salad and cold cuts. When the main menu is fish, I automatically become a vegetarian and head over to the salad bar.

Buffet Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

 

No need for ice since everything gets cold on their own. Instead of turning on the aircon, I turn on the heater which I always forget and often wake up in the morning with brain cells freezing. It snowed the other night too but they’ve melted down by morning.

Cologne Cathedral

We went out to Cologne City yesterday afternoon to do some shopping and have a look around. The Cologne Cathedral is huge and just amazing.

Cologne Cathedral

Inside the cathedral, facing the center. The stained glass are magnificent. (German: Kölner Dom, officially Hohe Domkirche St. Peter und Maria)

cologne-cathedral.jpg

Everything is expensive in Germany. The euro is 40+% higher than the US dollar so that’s another bummer. They had a Christmas Market beside the cathedral. Had a bratwurst for €2.50 and a glass of Coca-cola for €1.50.

Cologne Christmas Market

 

Most of the shops are the ones with name brands and price tags are just crazy. Even the electornic/gadgets are more expensive. Got tired of doing the usual peso-euro conversions– it’s no use, I just can’t afford them.

Yuga in Cologne, Germany

Luckily, I found this one local shop running a holiday sale. Got that parka for a low €17.95 at 70% discount.

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Avatar for Abe Olandres

Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines. He is also a technology consultant, a tech columnist with several national publications, resource speaker and mentor/advisor to several start-up companies.

20 Responses

  1. Avatar for vpkeomaogs vpkeomaogs says:

    6. Launch a sneak attack. ,Arcteryx

  2. Avatar for frank frank says:

    send info

  3. Avatar for frank frank says:

    learn about tanzanian culture

  4. Avatar for Jason Jason says:

    Thanks for sharing the link, unfortunately it seems to be down? Does anybody have a mirror or another source?

  5. Avatar for meinardus meinardus says:

    happy new year, guru. i am happy to see that all went well in germany for you and that your global network is growing. all the best for the future – and i hope we may stay in touch. regards from mannheim…

  6. Avatar for Abe Olandres Abe Olandres says:

    hey, joaco! stop advertising your blog here!

  7. Avatar for joaquin vocos joaquin vocos says:

    You may also see more pictures of Germany in joaquinvocos.blogspot.com enjoy them!

  8. Avatar for Seppi Sebastian Seppi Sebastian says:

    Nice to see your updated posts..!! Great pictures and nice to learn all of this..!

  9. Avatar for Paul Paul says:

    Eat at a metzgerei (butcher shop) instead and get a better lunch deal. A huge ham slice with potatoes for only EUR 2.50, I think.

    Yun nga lang, you eat standing up.

  10. Avatar for Dexter Dexter says:

    Nice shoot, Yuga

  11. Avatar for BrianB BrianB says:

    Yuga, you should go to a Vegas buffet and shoot with these wide-angle lenses. You have the knack for it.

  12. Avatar for Abe Olandres Abe Olandres says:

    Jazzy, I used wide lens.

    Kali, girl, go to your room. We need to wake up early tomorrow.

  13. Avatar for KALI KALI says:

    ABEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    GREAT PICTURES! IT’S BEEN GREAT TO LEARN FROM YOU IN THIS SEMINAR!

    LET’S GO TO DRESDEN!!!

  14. Avatar for Jazzy Jazzy says:

    Like your shots on food. How do you that? :)

  15. Avatar for Abe Olandres Abe Olandres says:

    Saw this one over at Sara in Mall of Asia and it costs Php8,995 so I thought €17.95 is a bargain. And yeah it’s very expensive here. I told them that Coca-Cola is just €0.17 in the Philippines.

  16. Avatar for BrianB BrianB says:

    Yuga, that Parka sells for 99 cents at the Salvation Army.

  17. Avatar for Abe Olandres Abe Olandres says:

    Oh, I’m moderating a workshop on Political Communications for the International Academy for Leadership at Friedrich Naumann Stiftung Für Die Freiheit.

  18. Avatar for Miguel Miguel says:

    Boss you haven’t told us, what are you doing there?

    Did you climb the Kölner Dom tower?

  19. Avatar for quezacolt quezacolt says:

    nice shots!

  20. Avatar for noemi noemi says:

    It’s quite an experience. Cologne was cold to me even if it was summer. I can just imagine you there, freezing. There. there. Here’s some warmth from our tropical country. Hope it reaches you.

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