Roundabouts, dancing, singing and ring a ring o’ roses: red k-ways, blue and sky blue back-packs on their shoulders and blue caps on their heads. Each item bearing the WYD logo. This morning Cologne woke up to the sound of voices of innumerable young people who are arriving in town for the 20th World Youth Day whose celebration begin tomorrow. They come from every corner of the earth and you can recognize them for their vitality. Young Italians start a ring a ring o’ roses in front of the Cathedral under the curious gaze of an unlikely Spider Man, who tries to eke out a living by having his picture taken with children. A little further on some young punks are amused by a group of Croatian pilgrims who enter the Cathedral behind their national flag. Slovakian pilgrims wave flags with the colours of the Holy See as they sing their national anthem. A volunteer in a wheelchair smiles at all those who ask for information, sitting next to her is her dog with a WYD scarf around his neck instead of a collar. Polish pilgrims stand in silence in front of the puzzle-portrait of John Paul II made with the photographs that many youth have sent from all over the world. More and more people are flowing into the square as Cologne begins to warm up.
