[NYer]

A police woman seals a manhole in front of the Cologne Cathedral in the western German city of Cologne August 1, 2005. Pope Benedict XVI will visit his native Germany during World Youth Day from August 21, which will be his first foreign visit since he was elected in April. REUTERS/Alex Grimm

[NYer]

Some pilgrims will stay in a brewery, some in a castle, others in a cowshed.

Here's hoping GipperGal gets the brewery .... Octoberfest in August :-)

EWTN Coverage of World Youth Day

WORLD YOUTH DAY, 2005, COLOGNE, GERMANY WELCOMING
CEREMONY LIVE (3 ½ HOURS)
Thursday August 18, 10:00 AM
Encore: Thursday August 18, 9:30 PM

LIFE ON THE ROCK LIVE FROM COLOGNE, GERMANY
WORLD YOUTH DAY, 2005 (90:00)
Thursday August 18, 8:00 PM

WORLD YOUTH DAY, 2005 COLOGNE GERMANY
WAY OF THE CROSS LIVE
Friday August 19, 1:00 PM

WORLD YOUTH DAY, 2005 COLOGNE GERMANY
MASS VIGIL LIVE (4 hours)
Saturday August 20 2:00 PM
Encore: Saturday August 20 8:00 PM

WORLD YOUTH DAY, 2005, COLOGNE, GERMANY
CLOSING MASS LIVE (3 ½ HOURS)
Sunday August 20, 3:30 AM
Encores: Sunday August 20, 2:30 PM
Sunday August 20, 9:00 PM

[GipperGal]

The offer by individual local Muslims and, in one case, a whole Muslim community to take in pilgrims caused some problems for the organizers, who eventually accepted the offers.

I just noticed this part. I wonder why it caused problems? (I'm actually semi serious in asking this question... really. Okay, okay, I'm trying not to smirk). Actually, think that this was very nice of the local Muslim community. I'm sure they have the noblest of intentions in offering their homes...

Okay, that having been said... now I can say something totally un-PC (and which I should no doubt be ashamed for thinking). Here goes: For some reason the first thing that popped in my head when I read this is the story of the Florida couple that rented rooms to Mohamed Atta. Could you imagine that?