It is Karneval in Köln (Cologne) and I am out celebrating with all the other Jecken. The Rosenmontag parade today was seen by over 1.5 million revellers, not bad for a city with a population of just over 1 million people!
Standing in the massed crowds, dressed as a Monsignore resplendent in purple robes, and shouting “Kamelle” and “Strüssjer” at the top of my voice as the floats passed by, there was an incredible atmosphere. Everybody, and I mean everybody, all 1.5 million of them, was in a turbo-charged party atmosphere.
Some things can only experienced when huge crowds gather. The Köln Karneval. The World Cup Final. Hogmanay on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. But the experiences that result aren’t ‘designed’. They emerge out of the interactions of all those present. And do you know what, the experiences are all that much better for it.
Karneval will be all over for this year on Ash Wednesday. Never mind, it all starts again at 11:11am on the 11th November 2007.
Until then, Kölle Alaaf!!!
Graham Hill
