June 12-15 Mega Cologne Post #10 Monday Morning

So we got up Monday morning and checked out of the Hotel. It was a nice stay, great city, great fights and of course the Dom!

Modern glass lobby, and of course the Rhino!

Saviya in front of the Dom, ready to hop the train Home

Officially the last Dom picture....

There was a 20,000 person teacher strike the morning we were leaving Cologne...Singing, chanting, marchin.....

So I head into Starbucks for my first quad latte and see Mike 'Quick' Swick. We said hello and Saviya posed with him. He won the night before in the second round...good show Mike!

He ended up being on our train..We found him and his wife a hotel and walked them over to it. Said our goodbyes and ended a wonderful adventure to Cologne Germany and UFC99! -Colin

June 12-15 Mega Cologne Post #9 Sunday Evening

So we walk across the northernmost bridge and took this wonderful panorama

The Rhine was very pretty and the city in the distance was aweseome

Almost the last picture of the Dom

Saviya overlooking the Rhine Park

Rhine Park

Nearly the last Dom Picture, Rhine Park

So one of the things Saviya wanted to do while we were in town was visit a spa and get a massage. Well she found this place called the Claudius Therme, which is a traditional Roman style bath. There were huge warm pools of mineral water. There were several other pools of different temperatures and mineral content. The Therme was setup so smartly, everything was high quality, the pools were connected, there were large jets that could massage your whole body , there was even a huge whirlpool that dozens of people could get in that would spin them around at a good pace. We paid for an extra service where we stripped naked and covered our bodies in mud than sat for 30 mins in a very hot steam bath. We rubbed salt into our skin to exfoliate, than in an overheated desperation, we showered clean. It was very intense and fun. The entire place used a chip in a wristband that you wore to purchase items, to open your locker etc. The hot sauna areas are 'no clothing allowed' areas...I got buck naked in a pool...We saw lots of naked men...a few ladies...After 4 hours we called it a night and walked home and collapse into bed into deep sleep.

Here is Saviya as we were getting ready to leave the Claudius Therme. Highly Recomended!

June 12-15 Mega Cologne Post #8 Sunday Afternoon

So we left the flea market and protest so we could ascend the Dom Cathedral. Its 533 steps to the top...than amazingly 533 steps down. Here is Saviya in front of the Dom (You can always click the pictures to make them larger!)

I cant think of many landmarks around the world I have visited 3 days in a row and loved it.o

Colin about to ascend the beast

Really, its over 300 feet to the top platform and close to 420 feet high in total

We get to the midway point and its pretty grand, but realize soon, more climbing!

Saviya in the stairwell....stupid graffiti taggers

And Colin

The final staircase to the highest platform.

At the interior of the platform looking up into one of the towers of the Dom

View Of the City East across the Rhine from the highest platform

Saviya looking south over Cologne.

Looking over to the second tower

Lookin out over the Rhine from outside on the platform

Looking towards the Rhine and the south

Hereis the main part of downtown Cologne

So we made it up, sweated out 2 liters of last nights bier...than began the climb down.

June 12-15 Mega Cologne Post #7 Sunday Morning

So we went to the west side of Cologne to go back again to the Dom to climb to the top. We came off of the subway and stumbled across a flea market. It was 2 floors and some outside of a building. Interesting stuff all around.

We might buy more if we could get it home easier...for now we mostly just looked around

Prices were ok on some items but high on many. Saviya ended up finding an Orange crystal goblet and got it for 13 euro (down from 15).

On the way to the Dom we came across about 500 people protesting.

They were primarily Iranians, but also other supporters .

They were peaceful and well organized. They chanted loudly. We could here them 300 meters away in Dom square.

June 12-15 Mega Cologne Post #6 UFC99! and After Party

So near the end of the night Saviya turns around and up in the 200 section behind us is Justin Buchholtz who fought earlier in the night sitting with two of his crew.

The saw us looking at them and were laughing. We went up and said hi. Justin was icing his face up after being submitted by Terry Etim. So next to him I look twice his size...oh ya he's 155 and I'm twice his size...

He was really cool. I asked if he thought about dropping down to WEC..He said happy to be fighting in the UFC. I told him lots of good fights for him in WEC, but he again said the UFC still had a place for him. (On another video blog, Dana White says he will get another fights- Good!).

So after the fights were done we were walking around and bumped into the UFC cutmen "Stitch' Duran and Leon 'House'. They were lost, we pointed them to their hotel. (pictures of that later, on another blog). So we went home and dropped off some things and than went back out to the Hyatt in Cologne where the fighters were staying. In the lobby during the next 3 hours more than 1/2 the fighters came through and greeted the fans, took pictures signatures etc.

So maybe one of the nicest fighters we met was England's 'Relentless' Paul Taylor. Hes had a rocky time in the UFC, but had a great win tonight!. Here he is with Saviya

Here again so you can see the shiner and the stitches.

His pretty girl was standing next to him all night being nice while his attention was on us the fans. Really genuine guy.

Cain Velasquez came a bit later. He was the co main event with Cheick Kongo. He snuck out a win. Here he is with Saviya

And with Colin

Looking beat up despite the win.

And her is Japan's Caol Uno and his crew.

Here Cheick Kongo is sitting next to Saviya while talking to random people from his crew.

And than my camera died. Not a good one with Saviya and Kongo, one of her favorites.

We met Mario Yamasaki, and some other local ref that we didnt know his name. Later Rich Franklin came to the hotel. He stayed outside taking pics and signing things for 45 mins. Super funny and nice. Pulled out a nice win so he was in a good mood. While other people were getting pics done, i yelled "Smile for Springfield OH", than "Everyone from Miamisburg loves you Rich"..He than looked over at me and said 'dude where you from?'. I told him Seattle, but my company was from Ohio. He came over to Saviya and I and started talking. He trains in Seattle (Kirkland Area) so for a few mins we talked OH, Seattle, and massages. Than Saviya told him she didnt want a picture with him, that she wanted a hug. He said "Sure!" all excited and they gave a nice big hug to each other. We also met Stephan Struve from the Netherlands. He had a nice 3 inch gash freshly stitched up...but he won! We saw Dan Hardy but didnt talk to him. Also Mustapha al Turk...Probably others but we were tired and out of camera power...so to bed we went. (4am!)

June 12-15 Mega Cologne Post #5 UFC99!

So we got dressed up for UFC99. Most of the crowd wore Tapout or Affliction shirts, but in Vegas tradition, we put on at least something nice.

There were only a nominal amount of Euro Douch Bags there..example below (no that's not Phil Baroni - New York Badass)

I was getting a beer and bumped into UFC fighter 'Handsome' Matt Wiman. I went back and got Saviya. He was kind enough to talk for a minute and pose with Saviya here

The obligatory self held shot of Saviya and I at UFC99!

Here I enjoy one of several one Liter beers they sold for 6.30 euro (8.75US). Try getting that at the Seahawks games!

Hmm good...

Our view was pretty good. Far enough away that we had to look at the big screens to see submissions or intense ground work, but off the floor enough to still see all the stand up action. The night was full of stand up battles, so it worked out OK.

At UFC62 we paid 500 US for each seat..for UFC99 we only paid 85Euro!

Over 15000 people came out..from US, UK, Croatia, Germany, the Netherlands, and I am sure many more.

The walk outs of the fighters were funny...pick a badass song to pump you up....did I hear Michael Jackson

Dan Hardy Vs Marcus Davis...good battle as expected

Really was a terrific night. 12 fights. almost 6 hours of entertainment. Good people around us (except the jackass that chain smoked all night).

Main Event was Wanderlei Silva vs Rich Frankin at a catchweight of 195. It was a good fight, I thought it was alot closer than the 30-27 score that got Franklin the victory.

So a much different experience than UFC62 in Las Vegas. A bit less glitz and glam, but affordable and totally enjoyable. Worth every penny.