Day 35: Cologne - Allianz and Cathedral

Wednesday, August 16, 2023, 10 o'clock. I'm standing with my bike in front of the Lindner and waiting for my colleagues who will pick me up. Already there are 3 cyclists in green jerseys of the Tour of Hope. That's what we agreed upon: we ride together to Allianz on Kaiser-Wilhelm-Ring and we'll be welcomed there. The colleague from the works council has 3 Cologne flags with him and a flag for me, which I receive wrapped around me like an Olympic champion. Feels good. The CEO of Allianz Versicherungs-AG, who is also on a business trip to Cologne, is joining us. So my action has reached the highest Allianz circles. I'm starting to be a bit proud of myself...

The site management, similar to in Hannover, has taken over a certain part of the lunch, the colleagues determine the price themselves, which then goes as a donation to the Tour of Hope. Many thanks for that! There is the 'Charity Braveheart Burger', a delicious thing that is very well received. I am being trained as a french fry provider, so I'm behind the counter. It's really fun.
To get to know the donation process myself, I then take my burger to the cash register, state an amount, hold out my ID - it gets debited. That seems to be the easiest way to do it.
The colleagues make generous use of it, just over €600 in cash donations are collected, and well over €1,000 through the food donation. And I know of colleagues who have gone the PayPal route. A phenomenal result that blows me away. Many thanks to the Allianzers in Cologne, no matter which Allianz they are employed at!
After a break, I devote myself to Cologne Cathedral. Although I've been to Cologne a few times already, I didn't have time for it yet. My wife was on the 'Underground Tour' and reports interesting things about the construction. Together, we climb the tower before we go inside. The cathedral is indeed a sublime, magnificent building, and I am amazed once again at what people were already capable of building centuries ago.
In Cologne, too, the colleagues from the works council have thought of my thirst and given me Original Fassbrause, a Mühlen-Kölsch, and a Reissdorf-Kölsch (and something invigorating for the journey).
That's how a very successful day comes to an end. And I'm very grateful for that!