Just a few shots from today’s Rosenmontagszug (Carnival Rose Monday Parade) – Karneval in Köln/ Carnival in Cologne. Lots of parade floats trundle along a certain route through Cologne and tons of sweets and other stuff is thrown down for the masqueraded folks watching (see photo below). The typical greeting is “Kölle Alaaf”.  Every year there is a motto, this season it was “Social Jeck” (social carnival reveller). I just read that next year’s motto will be “Mer stelle alles op der Kopp“ which roughly translates as “Turning Everything Inside Out”. Sounds fun! As if that didn’t happen anyway :o) R.E.S.P.E.C.T. Kamelle!!! (candy. Want!) Or Strüßje!!! – little bunches of flowers, that are thrown as well.. I got two, the One caught them for me. If you’re given a ‘Strüßje’ you have to give back a kiss (Bützchen). Is wat? View from above (Severinstr. for those who know Cologne) My (protest) hat: Actually there was supposed to be a float addressing the Charlie Hebdo shooting to show support, but unfortunately the carnival committee cancelled it for security concerns (read more here). I wore my hat anyway Goodies thrown from the floats, some nice … … and some … oh well. This is black pudding or Flönz, ready to eat with mustard and all. Uah! Lady in red & the One and only Jamiroquai. Alaaf :o)