Events

It's time for Lit-Cologne, the literary festival that's been taking Cologne by storm for the last nine years.

For Brits in Germany it's sometimes distressing watching and reading the daily disasters of British politics in the press.  Blair, Cameron and.... who's the head of the Liberal party again?  Oh yes - Nick Clegg.

Visit the Köln Arcaden today and you can watch, and maybe take part in, the longest talk show in the world.

"Amy Antin’s Room" is a unique and fantastic place.  It's an imaginary room where you don't have to grapple with obligations or socio-cultural tendencies, both performers and audience will feel at ease in this relaxed and unique atmosphere.

Not long ago I received an invite to do a test training session in martial arts. To be quite honest, I just glanced over it and figured I'd check it out since my last self defense course needed a top up. When I arrived at the dojo I was greeted warmly by Michael Thomanek, the founder of a new technique called Jidô ®. I found out that it would have been very beneficial for me to have read through the information beforehand. Jidô ® is not a martial art technique and it is not even a form of sport, but an individual way of finding your own inner strength and presence.

Anyone who is not a fool at Carnival is foolish for the rest of the year.

Annual festivities at Fastnacht-time always raise questions from new expatriates. “What the hell are they doing? What is Fastnacht about?” After ten years here, I’m getting answers but not from my German friends.

If you wander the streets tonight around midnight you might stumble across the last of many carnival traditions. In squares and back streets around the city you may well discover a "man shaped figure" being set alight and burned to a crisp by delighted, roaring crowds. Don't worry - it's not the head of the KVB finally being brought to justice for destabilising the city with his cut price Nord-Süd Bahn tunnelling - it's the Nubbel - and he has to be burnt every year to take away the many, many sins committed over the five long days of carnival.

Today is the official day of love - you're either preparing a Valentine breakfast for your beloved - or hiding under the sheets wishing it would all just go away.

Today the madness begins - crazed clowns, drunken ducks, squiffy sailors - they'll all be out in force today, and indeed for the next five days in a row. As a non-German Rhineland resident it can be a little hard to dig up the enthusiasm for carnival year after year - so instead you have to look for the highlights to get you through the "funf tollen Tage".  One such highlight is the "Tuntenlauf" in Düsseldorf.

Carnival time It's nearly here - the crazy days! Carnival takes to the streets and unless you've pre-planned your escape you're going to be trapped in a city full of jecken. The madenss starts tomorrow on Weiberfestnacht when the ladies take to streets and the mayors of the cities on the Rhine hand over their keys to the carnivalists for five long crazy days. If you're down in Bonn then there's always a party going on at Fiddlers Irish Pub - and Weiberfest nacht is no exception. The party starts at 5pm and for an entrance fee of just €3 (inc.