Weekend in Review

As the citizens of St. Paul, MN froze their tootsies off at the Winter Carnival, I was celebrating another carnival of sorts half-way around the world. This weekend marked the beginning of Fasching, the pre-Lent Mardis Gras-like weekend of parties that has Germans from all walks of life parading around to costume parties as honeybees, witches, and, of course, the dreaded clown.

Germans don't really do Halloween, so Fashing is their time to shine when it comes to costumes. Unfortunately for me and my clown anxieties, many a German choose to go with the red nose/court jester hat motif.

Frankfurt has a big Faschings parade on Sunday, but the real celebration was on Monday an hour north, in the city of Mainz. Mainz is one of the most Catholic towns in Germany, so their parade is large and in charge. I hiked up there at 9 a.m. this morning with some friends, and we wore our creepy face masks (very Eyes Wide Shut) and waved our hands so German men dressed up on stilts would throw us candy. I have to admit I was impressed by the German marching bands, and pleased to see that the parade route boasted many food vendors. It was almost as good as the state fair. I had two Jag shots , a crepe with Nutella and Bailey's, and a Kuh-Wurst (cow-sausage). ... all before 11 a.m.

Besides the Lenten celebrations, I saw a great movie Control at the English-language theater, met with my new Tandem conversation partner Esther, and went out for sushi in one of the ritzier parts of the 'Furt.

Ikea Update: It IS the same. But let me say this, Ikeas should NOT exist in places where the vast majority depend on public transportation. I would have given a pinky toe to have had an SUV on Saturday....