Street Parade

One day in August,,, Zürich becomes the most crazy city in Europe...

STREET PADARE, a huge Techno Party having thousands of visitors from whole Europe, driving everybody crazy and converting the city as one big disco club.

When I reach center of the city, I doubted my eyes. It was not Zürich which is normally very calm and classic. The loud music played entire of the city where ever I go and the way people dress were completely beyond my expectation!!

Gossic fashion in Europe! In Japan, these style are called "Goss Lori" or "Gossic style" who wear all black, princess like, sadistic, or sometimes erotic.




When I was focusing my camera, one man suddenly appear in the screen with funky pause! Everyone become funny and friendly!



Even polices making fun! Unbelievable!!



Men or women, many people are almost naked. Doesn't matter how their shape is:) Everybody are freely enjoying their costume and be crazy! That's a very fun part of living in Europe. In Japan, people will talk about you behind your back when they are doing something too extreme. Many people also painted themselves in silver, blue, red,, not only their head but all over the body!!



Later on, I found same group of people with nice aXXes. Then, I found his aXX writte "I love ALEX". That was super cool! I wish I could take photo and send to my friend Alex.

So I bought myself a devil horn. Can't be that extreme yet but maybe I'll try my best next year.



Then came strange hippy man suddenly captured me! Everything is allowed in this date! Funny, so just make a photo!



Then I found cool friend of mine. Two men from England also fully enjoying the party with sexy style! Can't stop beer, huh? Hi Hi!




Party continue until late. The main street where those techno cars go by was completely full like that of disco in the best time in the night. Car goes slowly one by one. Whenever a car pass by, people on the street became so excited. Me, I wish I had a chance to roam around the city on the car.. Now too old to do so;-)





Zürich has indeed many faces. Sometimes shows it's traditional, classical and conservative face but on the other hand, the city could be soooo crazy and fascinate many people from abroad. What is a real Zürich? I think all of them. And that make the city very attractive.

Böögg

Today was local holiday in Zürich. All the offices and shops in Zürich closed at noon and city was just like weekend or full with more energy than normal weekend. So many foods and drinks bar are standing along the street and smell sausages and cheese in everywhere! It's the festival actually to say "good bye" to long winter in Zürich (not this year thought) by burning big snow man built in center of the city. In early afternoon, the festival started by big horn of parade. Local men dressed like a knight strolled the street followed by pretty girls dressed as Heidi. Then comes group of people carrying cow bells (must be heavy!) "ding ding ding" and then group of people with drums "dong dong dong". Then comes camels, dancers,, there was even a group of bakeries throwing fresh breads to people. (I couldn't get one!) City's view looks normal but when you see carefully, all the churches has flag on the top and that's the sign of festival! Parade roam around the city and continue until the field where the snowman waits. Here, there are tons of people which never seen in Zürich before. I wonder where are these people all come from in such a small city. People are eager to see finale of the festival. I thought it is a whole big snowman itself, but actually it's a huge mountain of straw and pretty snowman is standing on the top. With the sign of big horn, fire is lighted on the mountain. People in here said, faster the snowman burns, better the summer will be. I was quite didn't understand how the snowman will be burned. Straw of the mountain was burnt quite fast and I thought that was the end. But actually, snowman on the top must be burnt completely until nothing! 5 or 6 minutes with a sounds of banger, fire has lighted to snowman. White snowman turned completely burned and become black. My smile has disappeared. It's not yet finished. Fire went further until destroying the snowman everything. People shout and scream with joy "go! go!". Finally, with a huge sound of firecracker, "Bang! Bang! Bang!" followed by the voice "Yes! Yes! Yes!" the snowman was gone and nothing has left. I was told "that was head". The snowman was not a two balls of snow. It has head, eyes nose and mouse with separate arms and legs. Is it only me who think about ancient ages when people are burn and die at the stake? Is because I'm the kind of person who can't crash easter chocolate bunny? I think it's just a difference of culture. Probably more Japanese people agree or at least understand what I mean. Same festival cannot be taken place in Japan, being said too shocking for children or whatever. Anyway, I straight went home but if I join the people who make barbecue with the fire afterward, I would totally forgot this small culture shock and fully enjoy early summer night.