THIRD WEEK IN COLOGNE



 16.3.2026

Since today was my day off, I planned to make it an eventful one by exploring Nippes, Cologne's centre, and popping by a jazz event at a bar. I left the apartment at midday to walk around Nippes. I visited the paper store we had gone to before, and I bought souvenirs for others, fridge magnets, and keychains for myself. After that, I just walked around and popped into a few stores, but didn't find anything that I wanted to buy. Before heading back to the apartment, I enjoyed a latte at a nearby coffee shop I had planned to visit. It was a small but cozy store, and the latte was really good. I popped by a Rewe to get a quick lunch before finally heading home. I ate lunch and chatted with my friends till it was time to leave again. 

Saga went back to work, and Miksu and I headed to do some shopping in Cologne's centre. We visited some shops we had previously checked out, as well as new ones we had planned to pop by. I had a great time and found more souvenirs. Since it was quite late, I decided to go back home. Miksu stayed, went out to eat, and visited a few more stores, while I took the metro home. 

I was the first person home, I showered, ate something, and got myself ready to once again go out. I left in a rush, since it was
already almost time for the jazz performance I was going to start. I got to the bar a bit over eight, it was already crowded, and the band had just started playing. I really enjoyed their performance. I enjoyed myself and just listened. The people there were really nice, though I was the only underage person there. The performance lasted for an hour, and I left shortly after it had ended, since I didn't want to stay out too late. 

Overall, I had a fantastic and fast-paced day that I really needed, and I plan on visiting the bar again next week, since there's a jazz band every Monday.

 17.3.2026

After the day I had yesterday, I took the day off easily. I did school work and watched shows, and I also played some games with my friends. I had a plan to go explore a nature trail close to Nippes, but since there's a strike with metros and some buses, I had no way of getting there. Nor did my friends have a way of getting to their jobs. We went to a Rewe, and a Dm closeby. I got some more souvenirs from the Dm and a bit of groceries from Rewe. 

Since one of the trips' purposes is to complete a vocational school course, which includes doing some sort of community project, my teacher and I agreed on my painting a ceramic of my choice and having my coworkers put their fingerprints on it. I've already decided on painting a mug with a flower pattern, taking inspiration from those old white vases with blue flower patterns on them. I'm going to gather the needed supplies tomorrow and paint the mug in my free time.

 18.3.2026

Today was an interesting day. In the morning, we found out that all the metros were on strike, so we'd have to travel by bus. The buses here are almost always late, and since the strike, they have been crowded. I had to travel by three different buses for an hour and thirty just to get to the center location. I decided that I didn't want to deal with the buses after my workday, so I pre-ordered an Uber to come pick me up when I got off. After the travel, I just decided to pre-order an Uber to come pick me up from work, so I'd be home a lot earlier than with the buses. My workday went well; I fumbled with the small glaze bottles all day, emptying excess bottles and making sure every color had three bottles each. At the end of the day, I gathered up the supplies I needed to paint the mug for the community project. Then it was time for me to leave. I was somewhat nervous for the Uber ride, since I didn't know what to expect. At the end, it all went swimmingly. My Uber driver was really nice, and we chatted about Germany and how it felt to live here. 

 19.3.2026

Today was our day off, since all public transportation was on strike. We took the morning easy, and I just drew and did some schoolwork. We decided to go out to explore Nippes once more. It was warm and sunny outside, the perfect weather to do some walking.  I felt a bit off in the morning, but it thankfully passed as I got outside our apartment. First, we visited a coffee shop that Saga had spotted a while back. We enjoyed our drinks, and I got a delicious bagel to eat as well. Then we went to a small grocery store, where I got something to drink and to take to work. 



Saga and Miksu continued to the paper store I visited on Monday, but I decided to head back to our apartment so I could get things done before the day ended. I did check out a big park on my way home, and there were a lot of people enjoying nature due to the great weather. When I got home, I got some homework done and painted the mug I brought home yesterday. I took my sweet time painting the mug and really liked how it turned out. Now I just need to collect the fingerprints onto it, and off to firing it goes!

 20.3.2026

Back at work! I worked at the pottery art cafe's Sülz location. Nothing much to remark, although I did get three fingerprints collected for the mug!

 21.3.2026

Today I had work at the center location, and got the rest of the fingerprints. I also finished up the mug by adding a few final touch-ups and text to the inside with a small pipette. My day went by pretty quick and I was on my way home before I noticed.

 22.3.2026

I went to work in the Sülz location. I notified my colleagues that I'd be leaving early today, since Miksu, Saga, and I had something fun planned with two German students we connected with at the Vocational school we visited. At work, I filled glaze bottles and spent the rest of my time mixing crystal paints. 

Finally, it was time for me to leave. I took a really crowded metro to the city centre, and we met at a boba shop called Beautee. Miksu, Saga, and the two students had already ordered their drinks. They had met at around 13:00, and spent their time walking and exploring the city before I joined in. We chatted, and I ordered a drink as well before deciding to start heading to the ice skating rink we had planned to go to. 

There was some sort of figure skating competition going on in the ice rink, so we had to go skate in the strip above. The strip went all the way around the inside of the building; it was one way, and looked like one of those rinks in American Christmas movies. I don't enjoy ice skating, but it was super fun with all of my friends there. I took it easy since I hadn't skated in a while and stayed back with one of the German students who didn't have experience in skating, while the rest of the group skated more freely. 

After skating, the two German students left in a hurry, since their only tram home was about to leave. They fortunately ended up making it home safe and didn't have to wait for another tram. Saga, Miksu, and I decided on getting some food, since we were quite hungry after the day. We chose a noodle shop close to our home in Nippes and walked there, since it wasn't too far off. The food was wonderful and filled us up nicely. I'm surely going to miss that noodle place when we fly back to Finland. 

We walked home happy and satisfied, a nice day behind us.

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