Rosenmontag!

This morning A. and I had an alarm set! We didn't wanted to sleep too long, since we had planned to go to the Rosenmontagszug (Rose-Monday-Parade), which is basically the climax of the carnival in Aachen! However, the parade starts always at 11.11 am and has to make its way through the whole city to the spot where I wanted to watch it. This meant, that we didn't had to be there before 1 o'clock at the earliest!

So we had a relaxed morning with nice breakfast and had the shortly after a snack to have something in our tummies to not starve while being on the parade. We then dressed in our costumes, got our drinks, beer and Jägermeister, and then made our way down to the city.

When we arrived at the parade it had already started and about 14 groups had already passed. With 120 groups in total this was less of a problem. We found a nice spot in the sun and watched the wagons and people passing by. Soon we also started to collect the candy which traditionally is thrown during the parade.

Both A. and I enjoyed the music and the good atmosphere. We hadn't intended to stay for the whole parade, but somehow it was so much fun that we stayed until all groups had passed. Then we went home and were looking at all the candy we collected. Although we had settled just with the "good stuff" like waffles, crisps and chocolate, we had a huge bag full.

Anyways, we had a good time and now we both are going to get so fat. We simply have so much to eat. I really enjoyed the time though; after all I am from this region, grew up with the celebration of Karneval and, different from my brother, I love it still! I can't deny that I really missed it the last years while being abroad!

~M~

Super Sunny Karneval!

Today is the first day of the street Karneval! We call this Thursday Fettdonnerstag and there is always a lot happening on this day in the city. Therefore A. and I got up this morning early and had breakfast in our costumes and with sparkling wine!

 Soon after that we went walking to the city. First it was a bit odd, because nobody was wearing a costume, but the closer we got to the city the more people were dressed up. I had totally forgotten, that this Thursday is a normal working day.

Anyways, when we arrived at the market square we were not allowed in. The problem was, that we had our pre-mixed drinks with us. Although they were in plastic bottles we could not take them in. I read before in the newspaper and heard in the radio that glass bottles would not be allowed, but when we came there they told us, that alcohol over 15% was also not allowed.

So we walked around the city and sat down in a park for some time. The weather was lovely and we enjoyed the sunshine. When it was 1 p.m. we went to the close by square, where another carnival club was about to start their program for the day. 

We spent some time there but went home at some point. We were hungry and wanted to have a nap before going out tonight again! After all it was a super nice start into the Karneval for me! I really like this time of the year!

~M~

Ready for Karneval!

I am ready for Karneval! This morning I got up early, had a quick breakfast and went with my parents to Bad Honnef. I had to talk to a person of my university and also had two viewings for a room and a flat. The talk with the person from the university wasnt that satisfying and I am still not sure if I get all my courses acknowledged. 

The viewings, well one of them, was more success. The first flat I looked at was an empty flat with two rooms and rather expensive therefore. Also I would have had to organize internet and stuff myself, which is not really worth it for half a year. The second viewing was for a room in a shared flat. I liked the room, the flat and also the guy living there already; So I took it - luckily the guy also agreed!

Now I have one worry less and can start relaxed into the Karneval season. I already paid the first rent tonight so that he can't say "No" anymore, but I mean, why would he! C'mon, who could say "No" to ME! ;-)

Anyways, I then went back to Aachen with my brother, who had to go back, since he had to work in the afternoon. He dropped me off in the city and I walked home. The weather was super nice and rather warm and so I took my camera out and took some snapshots.

 

When I was turning into my street A. came the other way with the bike to "pick me up". I walked and she biked to our house. Back home we started cooking and made a fabulous pasta with a spinach-cream-sauce and fried some chicken with it. It was delicious!

The afternoon we relaxed first and then went to the Karnevalswierts, a huge shop for costumes and stuff. It was super crowded and we had to drag and push ourselves through the masses of people. In the end A. just bought some green socks for her costume.

Half-ready costume! (Bottle is not part of the outfit!)

When we came home we made coffee and started working on A's costume. Somehow we got more and more ideas and started doing many things. In between we quickly went to the shop to get some drinks for tomorrow and then went on making things.

A. finishing the clover leaves

It was so much fun and since A. was all the time saying what she needed I got so inspired and got really into making this costume. We are not totally ready yet, but will be soon. We have to go to bed anyways, since we are getting up tomorrow early to be in the city at exactly 11.11 a.m. the time, the street carnival starts!

~M~