Rhys Arkins has his Europe photos online.
Over this weekend there was the Pützchen Markt a local fair/festival of sorts. Apparently the largest of its kind in Rhineland. I decided to go via bus on Friday night straight from work, armed with my camera. As I was pacing back and forth at the bus station I heard the sound of singing. Cor blimey, I thought – there are roving gangs of singing gypsies in these woods (our campus is surrounded by a thick forest). Then the bus came hurtling around the corner and lo and behold it was full of intoxicated gentlemen. I initially thought the bus had come from the Markt, but as we journeyed on it was apparent that no, we were indeed headed towards the Markt, these guys however were ‘priming’ themselves by way of the keg balanced on the back seat. After several rounds of deafening songs the bus pulled up at our destination. The first task for these gentlemen were to surround the nearest tree and – as we say in Australia – siphon the python.
The Markt itself was good fun – had a lovely atmosphere, subdued Polizei presence, lots of blinkenlights, sausage and beer. It also featured some very serious looking ride attendants and lots of damn dirty carnies. You know: small hands, smell like cabbage.
