The Swiss are a very respectable, intense, proper, somewhat uptight bunch of rule makers and rule followers. Perhaps that is why I love to see them behaving badly.....
I was planning a lovely hiking trip for the coming weekend when I brought my boys for their haircuts (30 chf each which includes a glass of soda and 2 pieces of chocolate, of course). The young, hip hairstylist asked if I was going to Street Parade this weekend. "Nein," but "was ist dat?" I replied, not likely impressing her with my Deunglish (Deutsch English). She conveyed that it was a "very cool techno music party." Hmmm...did she really think I could be cool enough to attend a techno music party?! What is techno music anyway? Why do they call it Street Parade if its a party?
That evening, hubby came home and told me that the Street Parade was the buzz all around the office. We've got to go to Street Parade. Then, I was in the throes of research...what is Street Parade? Is it a family event? NEIN....I learned thru experienced friends that this is not a family event....not for my family anyway.
Someone emailed me pix of a previous Street Parade. She described it as Zurich's Greenwich Village Halloween, Tailgate, New Orleans' Mardi Gras, NYs Puerto Rican Day Parade, and Gay Pride Parade fused into one day. We also learned that Boy George would be the "host" and acting as DJ for the event.
With our curiosity piqued, hubby and I ventured on our own....
How do I describe the debauchery that we witnessed? Since we arrived in the afternoon, it started out as just interesting...harmless largely.
The entire city was basically shut down for this Street Parade. There were no trams running, no cars in the city, loads of police a top buildings, people drinking tons of beer and just dropping them on the street regardless of whether they were bottles or cans, masses of people in costumes ....or less....meandering, strutting their stuff, proud to be zany. It was amazingly fun. Hubby and I did feel a bit old...we were definitely flies on the wall, observers, NOT participants.
We strolled thru the streets with Techno Music BOOMING from many different stages set up every 5 blocks or so. There were DJs, Dancers on stage, and we were enjoying the hilarious, interesting people watching. There were tooo many interesting people everywhere I turned that I couldnt even keep on top of it with my picture taking. Above is a strand of wheelchair bound reverlers. They had their wheelchairs decorated and smoke blowing out from their wheels. They had their own float with music blasting. It was very cool.
As we continued deep into the Parade/Festival, things were kickin up a notch. The costumes were become more interesting....risque. We sensed we were getting closer to the Master of Ceremonies...Boy George.
Sure enough, there he was. I have about 20 pix of him, but these 2 show him filming the crowd (see, even he was impressed, or amazed like us), and the advertisement of him and his posse.
Yup, the costumes got more interesting. ...oh and here's a glimpse of Boy George's VIP stage;s dancer...and her pole. Obviously, this was not for Boy George's benefit....
At one point, we stopped at a tent like the one shown above for a coke (5 chf). I noticed the Trojka sign, and also the same name on a box that was displayed. Naively, I asked "Was ist dat?" and the man serving my coke would not answer me....clearly ignoring me despite the fact that there were no other patrons at the moment. I immediately just chalked it off as the usual wanton customer service....then as I looked closely at the box I could see the letters " Trojka kondo_" ( I will let you figure it out) and was mortified! No wonder he wouldn't answer me - he was as embarassed as me!
On to the curb where sat, the only sober people at the fest, and just admired the revelers. Above, you see a man wearing a grand cape made of neckties...super cool. When he see him from the front you also see his rugged looking chest harness....interesting ornamentation. Oops - I think I used up my picture allowance. Perhaps I will have to add another post about the remaining - creative and shocking.
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