Welcome to Fabulous Cologne!

Posted by MadScientist (Düsseldorf, Germany) on 14 December 2008 in Documentary & Street.

This is MadScientist, live from vibrant Cologne, Germany. It's not just a merry, it's a crazy Christmas. Millions of Dutchmen, Belgians, and Britons have conquered the city and compete for Christmas bargains against the indigenous inhabitants. The most fiercely disputed battlefield is again the Christmas fair, or Weihnachtsmarkt in German, and as of tomorrow I will start a small series with ultimate survival tips for the Christmas fair craze. Hope you find it to be of value, as Weihnachtsmärkte are spreading all over the Anglo-Saxon world. Be strong!

The whole series: [Introduction] [Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3] [Part 4] [Part 5] [Epilogue]

Download my coffee-table book of selected postings here. Enjoy!

Comments (12)

Observing from West Cheshire, United Kingdom

Yes MS, and as your shoppers are drawn into the lighted den of iniquity, I can report that German sausages are having to compete fiercely with Polish meatballs here in Chester. The knakwurst is no competition for the Poles spicy balls.... especially when served with hot Gluhwein !

14 Dec 2008 5:55am

@Observing: Always have a Kackwurst with some strong mustard from Düsseldorf! :-)

akarui from Kagoshima, Japan

Beautiful night shot in the city.

14 Dec 2008 7:43am

@akarui: It was so crowded! People were virtually stumbling upon each other!

Ana Lúcia from Leiria, Portugal

Great urban portrait.

14 Dec 2008 8:24am

@Ana Lúcia: The normal madness before Christmas. Gets more crowded year after year.

Linerberry from Sumner, Christchurch, New Zealand

Wow so busy and bright!! Really looking forward to your survival tips:-)

14 Dec 2008 9:20am

@Linerberry: Fasten your seat belts, this is going to be a hard ride! :-)

NADINE DERUYCK from KLUISBERGEN, Belgium

VERY URBAN AND COLOURFUL!!!

14 Dec 2008 9:33am

@NADINE DERUYCK: Thanks very much, Nadine!

Michael Skorulski from Cigel, Slovakia

I like the vibrancy of this image. Very alive.

14 Dec 2008 11:08am

@Michael Skorulski: You bet! Some of the Christmas fairs there were so crowded we were virtually stuck!

Jen from Alpharetta, United States

Colorful and busy shot...nicely done

14 Dec 2008 2:03pm

@Jen: Most difficult thing was to find a spot for taking this shot, the city was awfully crowded!

Tracey from White Hall, United States

What a fun, vibrant and *awake* urban scene! Great capture.

14 Dec 2008 2:29pm

@Tracey: Compared to Düsseldorf (where I live), Cologne is big enough to lump all these extra visitors. We've been there on Saturday, and it was like hell (what is quite ironical, considering it's a Christmas Fair).

rem_la from Villiers, France

c'est superbement coloré !!

14 Dec 2008 4:15pm

@rem_la: Merci beaucoup, rem_la!

Laurie from New Jersey, United States

Wonderful shot. It sounds totally chaotic.

15 Dec 2008 2:51am

@Laurie: It is, yes, it is. Especially when you're standing inmidst the crowd!

Twelvebit from Victoria, United States

Love the night stuff. I forgot to say on the other shot with the crowd --too many people for me. I think I'd stay home.

15 Dec 2008 5:56pm

@Twelvebit: Everybody tells me so. Now I wonder where all these people come from, although so few like getting herded together. :-)

Japanalia from Yokohama, Japan

Many years ago....oh!...when I was much younger and discovering the world outside Romania....I visited Frankfurt just before Christmas! And I LOVED the atmosphere, the decorated streets and shops and the Christmas fair in the centre of the old town. The memory stays with me even today! I'd have bought all the decorations for Christmas, so much I enjoyed them! But...thinking of luggage in the plane...I bought just a little, decorations I still make use of at every Christmas since.

12 Mar 2009 4:00am

@Japanalia: Actually German Christmas is a quite inward festivity; you take stock of yourself, take a deep breath and celebrate the holidays with your family. In the meantime it turned into a shopping craze without precedent. I know now how residents of tourist attractions may feel when the guest stampede comes in. It's so crowded!

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Canon EOS 40D
1/50 second
F/5.0
ISO 1250
84 mm