I feel both at ease and inspired by Cologne, and it is a treat to ride the train into the city and to walk around its neighborhoods. The modern art museum here has a really cool collection of works from the artists in the Brücke movement and currently has a special temporary exhibit of Northern California comic book artist Robert Crumbs´ works. It´s beginning to feel like fall, my favorite season, and leaves are often blowing in the streets. (8/18/04)