Police World Edition 2 2014

Article

Wunderbar In2013, SouthWalesbranchorganisedabranch trip to the Christmasmarketsof CologneandBonn - KenDavies takesup the story. W ith5markets to choose from in Cologne, and stunningarchitecture and culture toexperience, we realisedwewere going tobe spoilt for choice when it came to fill our time inGermany. WewerewelcomedbyGunter Rummel, from Colognebranch, andWinni Boehlefeld, fromBonn Branch. reluctantly returned to thehotel inBruhl. Saying goodbye toGunter was like saying goodbye toan old friendbut that iswhatmakes the IPA so great isn’t it? The townof Bruhl is small but contains everything youwouldwant for anenjoyableevening’s entertainment –but without thenoiseand

Enjoyingagluhwein

crowds! Various groups sniffedout bars and food amongst theback streets - as only exCID cando. Others found yet anothermarket that was just up the street. Next dayWinni was our host and guide in Bonn, after hehad finishedhisduty. Like Gunter, heprovidedanexcellent potted history of the city together withan interesting walking tour of themainareas. Duringa short breakat a fantastic coffee shopwemadea small presentation toWinni. In theeveninganumber of us arranged to meet inBruhl wherewewerepleasantly surprised to seeGunter andhiswife waiting for us!Wehada fantastic evening. It was as if wehadall been friends for many years. In fact, during the course of theevening, wewereall invited toa festival that isbeingheld inCologne - aswell as FriendshipWeek in September 2014. Oneof themain things that hit us all whilst wewereaway, andmadeus proud that wearemembers of the IPA, is in our experienceacross theworld the members reallymake it work for each other. It shows in the time they freely give youand in thewarmthof their hospitality. KenDavies , Chair SouthWalesbranch

The followingday, Guntermet us inCologneand actedas anextremely knowledgeable guide of the tourist areas of this great city. Heoften provided commentary fromon topof a concrete bollard - likeany great tour guidewould. Gunter alsoexplained that owing to the frequent visits from IPAmembers fromaround theworld, a number of the local branchmembershave set themselvesupas a teamof guides toassist in providing tours of the city. Our tour includedan insight into the foundations and constructionof the cathedral andan adjacent Romanmansion that wasbuilt over 2,000 years ago. Gunter’s knowledgeof Cologne was amazingand it was apleasure to listen tohim. We thenhit themarkets of Cologne. Anumber of our party had visited the city onprevious occasions sowebrokeup into two groups to take in the sights. Thoseof uswho remainedwithGunter had a fantastic fewhours of walkingand talking, followedby lunch inabeer keller that served traditional German food.Whilst there, we presentedGunter witha few IPA gifts. Youwould have thought wehad givenhima fortune! Little didheknow that the timeand friendshiphehad givenuswasmuchmore valuable. On theway toanothermarket, we saw the Jewish medieval areaand the remains of their housing whichwasbeing turned

InsideCologne cathedral

intoamuseum. Wealso saw the ancient Roman

Oneof Santa’s helpers

sewer systemand learned that during theSecondWorld War it wasusedas a shelter as it was so deepunderground. A full day in the Markets is an extremely tiring ventureand it was thereforeanexhausted group that finally and

KenDavies presentsGunter Rummel withan IPApennant

KenDavies presentsWinni Boehlefeldwithan IPApennant

POLICEWORLD Vol 59No. 2, 2014

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