It's Karnaval time at the office

Strange sight in the lobby of my building yesterday: Bonn's Prince and Princess of Karnaval arrived for a visit. People who work in the medical offices on the other floors were all there for the party. There were balloons and streamers, apple juice in champagne glasses (it's an office party) and finger-food. Some folks were in costume and posed for pictures with me:

Of course, there is no actual royalty involved. The Prince & Princess are volunteers I guess, and they have an "army" of fieldmarshalls who are dressed like Banon Von Munchausen and who go from office party to office party spreading good cheer. The minivan behind the fieldmarshall says something about the "Washing Princes" (hence the line of hanging laundry)

 

This Karneval thing is not found in all parts of Germany. I gather that it's mostly the Western and Southern part of the country that celebrates it. Some of my colleagues who hail from other cities (Berlin) have themselves never seen a Karneval either and find the whole thing very silly.

The whole thing really takes place next Thursday (and for a few day thereafter). Apparently Köln (Cologne) is the scene of epic drunken debauchery. Our little neighbourhood is having a parade and children's costume contest which will be more our speed. We've got THE CUTEST outfit for Arianne.