Sunday, March 29, 2009

Saturday Browse

One of our favourite pastimes on Saturdays is to go to Düsseldorf and stroll in the modern city centre with all its shops and then head towards the old town for a fish meal at the Fischhaus. We went yesterday, and as always we were sucked into the Kö Galerie with all its posh shops. Just watching people there is entertainment in itself. Germans still love to dress up, put their Sunday best on, and go window shopping. It's just like theatre. In particular the older generation are guilty of this.

Some of them find a stool in the wine bar in the mall and sit there sipping wine, chatting and watching others. Many of the women have several layers of makeup, overdone hair and even fur coats. Yes, proper fur! The gents of a certain age mostly have old-fashion mustaches, jackets and ties. And everybody is watching everybody!

D 1

For some reason, which we never found out about, old cars were displayed in some spring-like, flower arrangements.

D 2 D 3

But what was the hidden meaning of the ornament on this one, a child doing a one-arm handstand? Is that to warn children playing in the street, that they might end up on the bonnet of this car if they don't behave?

D 4

12 comments:

Zuzana said...

I have to admit that I like the shopping centers, they are so practical; you park and then you walk around, shielded from the elements and have all the stores in one place.;)
Of course, once in a while, like on a beautiful spring day, it is just as exciting to be walking in the downtown.;)
I like your pictures.;))

swenglishexpat said...

Protege - Today, at last, the sun is shining, so it would have been downtown today!

Veronica said...

How does it go ... "the boys watch the girls watch the boys go by?" ... I must admit that I like to get a seat where I can watch the whole parade go by.

Gutsy Living said...

Why all this people watching I ask? I remember the Champs Elysees is all about looking up and down at what others are wearing. Are the cars for sale or is it just for a museum type show?

swenglishexpat said...

Veronica - That seems to be the name of the game, but I cannot remember the song title, though I can hear it in my head ... la la la...

GW - That's what people do, trying to look cool themselves, observing others. One should perhaps carry number cards to judge them and allocate points! ;-)

Maybe there was some info regarding the cars that we missed, but they were all definitely well looked after by somebody, all shiny and clean.

1st Lady said...

I have similar ornaments on my bonnet, 6 of them now actually, it's how I keep count of my granny knock downs (I also have ornaments on my boot, thats where I keep count of any I reversed over).

swenglishexpat said...

1stL - I was afraid you would say that! ;-) Is that the fighter pilot in you?

BTW Does that include grannies with sticks and walking frames?

Gutsy Living said...

I like the card idea with points. That would make it more fun judging.

Veronica said...

Reminds me of the 'interesting' view some of my work colleagues experienced when they looked out one of our office windows last Friday - we have a new holiday apartment block right next door - scoring cards were suggested at the time!

swenglishexpat said...

Veronica - cards? no somebody should have had a camera! Ha ha ha!

CanadianSwiss said...

I love people watching in the Kö Galeries - well to be honest, not only there :)

How strange (but amusing) to have a child doing a one armed handstand as an car ornament. I wonder what the idea behind it was.

swenglishexpat said...

CS - Yes, it is definitely the oddest car ornament I have ever seen. Maybe one could google it to find out?