Carneval in Berlin

A lazy morning with lots of coffee, reading a bit, having some breakfast, playing with Gustav a bit (he discovered it's fun to climb onto the tree and look down on me from his high platform), phonecalls to arrange meetings at the carneval with Hanne, Bert, my neighbour Karen and Patrick who had stayed at my place after beachcamp 2006, and whom I had met ever so often since then all over Europa. This time he came from Warsaw with his girlfriend. He'll move there to stay with her soon - looks like his trip to Singapore is postponed some.
It took me a while to decide what to wear, since it was hot, but heavy rain was expected later in the day. In the end I chose a dress and comfortable sandals plus a raincoat and an umbrella. Everything was soaking wet a few hours later, so I had to get home and get changed whilst Eric was feeding Gustav with titbits placed on the tree. He had meant to do that since Friday, anyway.
The festival was great, as always, but even bigger than the last years. We had fun strolling around, browsing through the exotic shops, watching smiling and laughing people dancing to the bands (five stages with life music!), having some snacks and drinks on the way. They had Augustiner from Munich and Schumacher from Düsseldorf, both fresh on tap, unbelievable!
And african, autralian, belgian, cuban beer as well. Drinks from all over the world - you name it, they've got it.
And the food! Those delicious smells! Would you prefer a bolivian dish or a russian? I had to have african fish balls, baignets, beans and hot sauce and fish pastry (5 Euro). I loved it! And was not angry at all we could not have this great pizza Bert had invited me to at "12 Apostel" in Mitte. Lars was a tick tired, and Eric always had to be the older and sensible one and was fed up with that. Yeah well. Another time, when Bert is back at work in Berlin without the boyz.
I never met Hanne after all, but all the others, and we had a wonderful time. Until about 4 pm, one hour after the rain had started, when we were all dripping wet. Luckily it was not cold at all. But all those poor dancers and musicians at the parade! Smiling and giving their best all the same! The group in my picture had been careful to choose the right costume. :)
The rain started when the parade had, and stopped as soon as the parade had finished. Not fair, is it!
Today's the last day of the festival. And there might be some sun. I might go again. We'll see.