The Aerie
Neumarkt held an annual parade today, and we were lucky to be in town for it. Tomorrow we leave for Paris. So we made a point of stopping by to see it. It was lots of fun, but regrettably plagued by the same inconstant weather that has been hanging over this area for a while. Nonetheless everyone seemed to have a good time.
Horse-drawn carriges feature a lot more strongly in these parades than in the ones I've seen in America. And people dress better - whole marching bands in traditional costume. Even people in the crowd wear traditional clothes.
Last night the family visited the fair being held as part of the festival weekend. It was a like a slightly smaller version of the Minnesota Midway, with lots of teens and families wandering among the rides. The "Wild Mouse" was even named the "Wilde Maus"! One thing my wife pointed out was that many of the foods served from the booths were the same foods people could buy day to day: pretzels, cheese, candy, etc. The beer gardens were immense, and everyone drank from big glass steins. Normally these steins would be expensive tourist items, but I could have had one just by buying a beer and walking off with the glass - or by picking up one of the many left on tables. I refrained from kleptomania however.
We ran into Claudia at the fair: she's a local girl who has befriended our daughter and has stopped by regularly to visit. Unfortunately when we get back from Paris, Claudia will be on vacation, so we won't see her again after today. But it's nice that our daughter has made a friend locally.
Claudia even brought over her sisters to shake my hand and solemnly wish me a "Happy Birthday." It's apparently treated much more seriously here than in the States. Or maybe, given my advanced age and all, they were simply worried that I might expire at any moment.
We're packing up for Paris, so I'd better wrap this up. Oh, and the weather there? Forecast of rain, all week long...
It'll be just like our honeymoon!
Posted by Albatross at August 13, 2006 1:31 PM | TrackBackOur Village Fest parade last week was mostly local politicians and their friends passing out leaflets and groups of kids throwing cheap candy at the crowd. I envy you. (The lumber-adorned float says roughly "Better wood in front of the house than no oil in the tank." Kinda ... obvious?)
Posted by: Stephen Hearn at August 13, 2006 9:50 PMWhat fun!! Love the train, the "...aaaaws" (beautiful children) the big black horses, dancers in the rain, all the brilliant colors. Would like to see the itty bitty horses alongside those big draft fellas.
One could almost hear the clackety-clack of hooves and shoes on the cobblestones. Kinda hate for you to come home and stop the pictures.
Have a safe return trip. Thanks for the travelogue.
PD
Posted by: Patricia Dean at August 16, 2006 11:46 PM