First of all, I went with a teacher from my school, Steffi, on Rosenmontag (this past Monday) for the parade in Cologne. She picked me up at 7.30am from my apartment (wasn't the happiest of campers at this point, but when I opened the door to greet a 30 year old woman dressed as Pippi Longstocking, my spirits improved). We drove to Recklinghausen, and then took the train from there to Cologne (about a 1.5 hour trip).
The trains on the way there were JAM PACKED, and I have to say that I felt a little under-costumed despite the neon-pink wig that Steffi gave me to wear and my face having red hearts painted all over it. There were so many people on the trains that you could barely move, and confetti was flying before we even got to the city. The conductor even came on over the loud speakers and told people to get off at the stop just outside the main station because the main train station was literally full of people. Did we get off there? Oh no, we decided to take a chance with the crowds.
AND WERE THERE CROWDS! I've never been around that many people at one point - apparently about 1.3 million people. People, literally of ALL AGES were dressed in the most outlandish costumes. Everything from middle aged men dressed in drag to vikings to witches to garden gnomes. Wigs, feather boas and oversized sunglasses were everywhere and people were blowing these cheap trumpet-like things (which I came to hate by the end of the day). It was definitely a sight to see - there were vendors selling cans of beer all along the streets on the walk to where the "Umzug" (parade) took place.
And let me tell you, I've never seen a parade quite like this. They threw TONS of candy, including whole chocolate bars (took one to the forehead - OUCH!), and the parade lasts about five hours. No joke. We were there for three hours, but seeing as we couldn't feel our feet we decided it was time to go. Finding our way back to the train station was an adventure in itself, especially considering it was on the OTHER side of the parade. About an hour later, we found the U-Bahn station where we had to go underground to get around the parade. So yeah, very very long day, but very very cool experience.
Today I went to Olfen, a smaller city outside of Duelmen, with a student teacher from my school. They were having the same kind of parade, but obviously on a smaller scale. The best part, I must say, was the company. She and I drove to Olfen right after school and met her parents and their friends, who had already set up camp on the side of the road and were waiting for the parade.
They weren't fooling around either - they had everything from a keg of Koelsch beer to one of those standing heating post things that they have at outdoor restaurants. And the costumes - fantastic. Pirates and clowns complete with face paint and everything! Her parents were hilarious, and kept insisting that I "have another beer!"..."try some of this Wurst, but you must have it with mustard!"..."do you want to do a vodka shot?!"..."you're out of beer - GET HER ANOTHER BEER!" Oy. After having had nothing to eat all day, I was in pretty good spirits by the time we left. I had also secured an invitation to her father's 60th birthday this June. Cannot WAIT!
Me and Steffi at Karneval!
One of the bands...typisch.
This is what you have to scream over and over if you're in COLOGNE for Karneval...in Duesseldorf, for example, you have to say something different.
This float was about the swine flu...thought it was pretty clever.
Steffi's wig became a bit unruly...
Poor Angela Merkel...not the most flattering depiction.
This picture was taken on the side of the parade OPPOSITE the train station. Took us a good hour to get to the other side.
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