Tag: #I’m a fan of …

I’m a Fan of the Wurstmarkt Brunnen

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During the first two weeks in September, Bad Dürkheim in the Palatium puts on the largest winefest in the world, the Wurstmarkt (literally: sausage market). It’s not a new festival, it has been around since 1417 – in 2017 it was celebrated for the 600th time! In comparison, the first Oktoberfest in Munich was only in 1810.

Most visitors to the fest arrive by train or tram and the first thing they see when they arrive is the Wurstmarkt fountain.

The wine is brought to the fairground.

People come in their Sunday finery, families and all.

There are stalls for things to buy and things to win.

There are also fairground rides.

Of course, there is music to accompany the merrymaking.

It’s not called sausage market for nothing.

There are always some who overdo it.

Until the next morning, when it starts all over again. For a whole two weeks.

I’m a Fan of … #175

I’m a Fan of Monuments and Pigeons

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At least, when they are just sitting there (the monument looked clean all round).

This is the Alice monument for the Grand Duchess of Hesse and by Rhine in Darmstadt. Incidentally, she was the second eldest daughter of Queen Victoria, HRH Princess Alice Maud Mary of Great Britan and Irleand which – if my thinking is correct – made her the great-great aunt of Queen Elizabeth II and also the maternal great-grandmother of her husband, Prince Philip. Her memory is alive and well in Darmstadt as the hospital she founded in 1869 is still going strong; I myself was a patient there for a couple of days a decade ago.

I’m a Fan of … #174