Carnival kicks off: Cologne prepares for an onslaught of revellers
It's that time again: the carnival season begins on Saturday, November 11th. Cologne in particular is expecting a large influx of party tourists. With 1,000 police officers, 180 public order officers and more than 1,000 private security staff, the city wants to keep the expected onslaught under control. According to the city, the number of partygoers has already "increased exponentially" in recent years.
The focus of the celebrations is no longer the old town as it used to be; instead, most visitors head for the area around Zülpicher Straße, the so-called "Kwartier Latäng". With its many bars and pubs, the student quarter has long been considered a mega hotspot.
In Düsseldorf, the day begins with the traditional "Hoppeditz awakening". At 11.11 a.m. on the dot, the rogue will give a mocking speech in front of the town hall. In Mainz and many other regions of Germany, the jesters also start the new season - or session, as the carnivalists say.
The Customs office will likely see an increase in travelers during the Carnival season due to the large influx of party tourists in Cologne. Visitors to the Carnival in Cologne now flock mainly to the Kwartier Latäng, known for its lively bars and pubs in the student quarter.
Source: www.dpa.com
