Oh my goodness, dear hedgehog friends, I absolutely must tell you about my latest, completely exciting adventure! Just imagine: I, Little Viki, the traveling hedgehog with the prickly dreams, was on the road today in Ulm, and not just anywhere, but in that gigantic, sky-high building that everyone just calls the Ulm Minster!
But we didn't just walk around down below, no, no, no! My beloved humans took me on a special tour. You could also call it an Extra-Class Secret Agent Mission, because it led us directly over the roof of the Minster! Have you ever seen a hedgehog so high above the clouds? I think I even brushed a little bird with my quills, that's how high it was!
Hide-and-Seek in the Masonry
This tour was truly something special, because it took us into hidden rooms that the normal Minster visitor wouldn't even dare to dream of. It was like being in a gigantic, stone labyrinth built up into the sky. I sometimes felt so small, but my hedgehog curiosity was, of course, much bigger than my hedgehog size!
The absolute highlight – hold on tight, my little and big friends – was the view of the main choir. Imagine this: We were standing in a hidden window, high up, directly below the huge vault. From there, you could see everything! It was like being in a giant dollhouse for giants, but much more solemn and beautiful. I almost forgot that I am a little hedgehog, I was so impressed by this unique perspective. It felt like I was sitting on a cloud bench and conducting the entire Minster from above!
The Hedgehog and the Height – A Prickly Thriller!
Well, and that brings us to the only small "ouch" of the day: You really, but really should not be afraid of heights! Although I am a small hedgehog who likes to scurry around on the ground, I clung tightly to my humans and used my quills as a courage booster. But the view from the roof was worth every wobbly second! We took a very close look at the exterior view of the roof. That was fascinating!
Our great guide explained to us that the Minster is like a living cuddly toy that needs constant care. Every single stone, she said, has to be repaired or even replaced at some point. Just imagine that: Such a huge building and so much work so that it stays so beautiful for all of us! I found it very considerate of the stones that they are holding up so bravely, but also reassuring that there are always diligent people who take care of it. That's almost like giving my hedgehog-cuddle-fur a brush now and then so that it's all fluffy again! Only very, very big and with stonemasons instead of brushes.
The Great Bell Drama
And then came the moment that was almost as exciting as a bowl full of mealworms... but unfortunately ended a little disappointingly. At 4:15 PM, we were standing in a very special place: Directly below the giant bell! I was already preparing myself. I pressed my hedgehog ears firmly against my head and was looking forward to a huge, deep PONG sound that would make my quills stand up!
Well, and what happened? Nothing! Absolute silence! The bell apparently thought: "Nah, not today, I'm taking a hedgehog break!" I was a little bit sad, but then I thought that the bell probably had a strenuous day and fully deserved a little rest. Maybe it just didn't notice me because I'm so small. But don't worry, next time I'll just listen much, much louder!
Overall, it was a wonderful day full of new discoveries, airy heights, and interesting stories. I feel like I am now a real roof expert and can tell you all about stone care and Gothic secrets!
I first have to clear my head from all the high-flying. Maybe with a little rolling-into-a-ball routine?
Have you ever looked at something huge from very high up? And do you think the bell just wanted to annoy me or did it really have a day off? Write me your theories!
And shhh... my humans were already whispering about "Rhine" and "castle" again. Will my next adventure be a prickly-knightly one? Stay tuned!
Until the next prickle-adventure,
Your Little Viki (the almost-bell-conqueror)