Karneval Thursday

I had an interview today in Leverkusen.  Leverkusen is a town just North of Köln.  It is only 45 minutes from München (if you are travelling at 800 km/h in a Boeing 737 800).  The potential commute is shaping up to be a disincentive.  None the less I accepted the interview as I need the experience and you never know they may have a project planned in München.  I had the choice of dates for the interview and I chose the Thursday afternoon of the ramp up to Karneval. Karvneval or Fasching is a festive period for Germany, it starts at 11 minutes past 11 on the 11th of November and goes until the beginning of Lent.  Nothing much happens until the last 5 days and then the normally austere Germans go crazy, at least they do in Bonn, Köln and Düsseldorf.

The Rhine near Bonn

We flew into Köln/Bonn on Wednesday night and were collected from the airport by friends, Birgit and Ben.  A few minutes on the autobahn and then we were sitting around the kitchen table sharing wine in the fashionable suburb of Oberkassel, coincidently the same name as the fashionable suburb where Paul & Jodie lived in Düsseldorf.  The next morning we shared Frühstück together before dropping Ben off at the Bahnhof.  Ben has a low tolerance to Karneval and chooses to leave for greener less chaotic pastures for the Karneval weekend.  At the station I had my first glimpse of Karneval, the DB train was packed with revellers in costume.  We then went back home to collect Birgit's costume as her work colleagues were to start celebrations at lunchtime.  I will side track for a moment and point out that the first Thursday of Karneval is women's day, or Dirty Thursday as I was later to learn.  On this day every woman can do what she likes with all sins being forgotten come midnight, they also have the right to cut their bosses, husbands, boyfriends, friends, acquaintances or complete strangers tie off should the afore mentioned individual be foolish enough to wear one.  I was vaguely aware of this when we entered Birgit's office Karneval party and became increasingly more aware of it as the party started to liven up.  This old duck in a costume that would have been really fetching on a someone half her age kept giving me the eye.  Now I know that when it comes to body language I am not the most fluent of individuals.  In fact my inability to correctly interpret body language is second only to my inability to deliver snappy one liners in the appropriate moment. However I was pretty certain I was being targeted for some Karneval flirting. So the more this woman kept catching my eye the closer I moved to Annika.  Alas it was to no avail and I ended up dancing with her whereby she insisted we rub our arses together.  We beat a hasty retreat soon after.

Preparing for the interview

The next activity on the days agenda was to attend the interview, the reason we were in Bonn in the first place.  Ben and Birgit had generously decided to lend me their car and Annika offered to come along to ensure I didn't become geographically challenged along the way.  It was only a half hour drive away so we made it with plenty of time.  The interview was to be held in an industrial park with strict security.  Luckily, due to Annika's insistence, I had my passport with me so they were happy to let me in.  The interview itself was one of the best interviews I have had.  Although it got off to a shaky start with both interviewers thinking that it would in Deutsch and not English. Once this had been sorted out the next moment of trepidation came when Andrea left to get me a coffee. Her interview partner looked at me and asked me if I was acquainted with the customs of Karneval and informed me that my tie was in danger.  Thinking that he meant my tie would be in danger later that afternoon I confidently replied that I knew the custom and that I was driving home so my tie would be perfectly safe.  He gave me a pitying look and said.  "Your tie is in danger now.  My colleague has left to get some scissors."  Sure enough Andrea returned not just with a cup of coffee but also with a large pair of menacing looking scissors.  In the end Simon decided that in the interest of international relations it would be best if Andrea did not cut off my tie, at least not until after the interview.  She relented but kept the scissors in full view for the duration of the interview.  The interview lasted 90 minutes but they flew by.  Both interviewers were exceptionally likeable people and asked intelligent questions and expressed an interest in my answers.  I escaped with my tie intact.

The next activity was to head into Köln to join some of Birgits friends who had been celebrating since mid morning.  Luckily Birgits landlord had a wardrobe full of Karneval costumes so Annika and I could blend in with the rest of the population.  Karneval in Bonn, Düsseldorf or Köln is something to see.  99% of the population gets dressed up in costume.  We headed into the student district to check out the street party, this is where we met Andreas and Anna (The king and the Geisha).  After hooking up we tried to find a pub or club to get into.  This proved difficult as 2 million other people had the same idea.  After being kicked out of one club before we had even got in (which takes some doing) we finally settled on a quiet little pub.  It was a little too quiet so we moved to the Altstadt where we found a large noisey pub.

A pub somewhere in Köln

Helen Mirren was there.  She was wearing a black leather choker with studs and matching bustier.  Her make up can best be described as subtle gothic with a hint of dominatrix.  I was hoping that she would try and catch my eye but she remained aloof.  Her friend on the other hand was quite generous with her attentions but she just wasn't Helen Mirren.  Dancing in this pub reminded me of a moment some years ago when I was with Paul and Jodie in similar circumstances.  In that particular instance I remember being struck by the peculiarity of how the Germans celebrate Karneval.  In particular the songs played in the clubs and pubs.  The normal dance music would be interspersed by traditional folk type songs.  What was even more weird was that everyone would sing along with drunken gusto.  There is nothing more fun than trying to sing along to German folk songs with loads of drunk happy Germans all swaying and shouting in unison.  It was a grand night and we didn't get home until gone 2am.