The ancient hurdy-gurdy plays the mechanical music of by-gone days. The crank is turned by a picturesque and smiling couple of pensioners of Cologne dressed up in period costumes of ancient Rhineland. They have opened their home to a couple of young people from Argentina who have come for the WYD. "We’re very happy! This is a wonderful experience says Peter Kau, who has retired from the German Railway Company and for the last three years has been roaming the streets of the town playing his hurdy-gurdy. "Even though we don’t speak Spanish we communicate with gestures and sign language. I live in Cologne and I will undoubtedly go and see the Pope. I long to listen to his words, to hear his holy message. This event is very important for Germany which has never before hosted such large crowds of young people". His wife Margeritta, an imposing figure with her large-brimmed hat, tulle and red roses, nods to her husband’s words and all the while she goes on turning the crank. And once the day is over, spent smiling at the tourists who give them small coins or buy their CDs, in the evening they wait for the young pilgrims to come home.
