On Whit Sunday – or whatever it is called – religion is not my spitzenkompetenz – I decided to go and check out the carneval parade in Gneisenaustraße. Next to adopting a high-maintenance dog at the age of 68, that turned out to be one of the dumbest ideas I have ever had.

Never in my life have I seen so many people completely filling up so many streets over such a large area also choc-a-block with stands with streetfood from the world over. Getting through the crowds starting already in Gitschiner Straße was not so difficult shortly before midday, but the streets quickly filled up and by the time the parade started – sort of – and especially by the time I had had enough and wanted to get away from there, it had become almost impossible to move. Despite the fact that the parade, or what I was able to see of it, was really lame and pathetic, especially considering the hype leading up to this weekend.

Below are some impressions from the day, mostly from before things got too chaotic and then later from the way back when I had managed to fight my way out of the worst crowds and to Willy-Brandt-Haus with World Press Photo 2023 which is always a good reminder of the events of the past year.