La Strada, Bremen

La Strada, das internationale Strassenzirkusfestival war mal wieder (zum 15.ten Mal) angesagt in Bremen am letzten Wochenende und dieses Festival hat sich in den letzten Jahren zu meinem absoluten Lieblings Event in Bremen gemausert und so haben wir es in diesem Jahr sogar geschafft am Samstag und Sonntag dabei zu sein.

Bei La Strada handelt es sich um ein Event bei dem Straßenkünstler an allen möglichen Plätzen in der Bremer Innenstadt "umsonst und draußen" ihr Programm, ihre Performance spielen. Das geht von Cabaret über Slapstick, Pantomime, Musik und Show, bis weit über Artistik, Jonglage, hin zu anspruchsvollem Musical und Theater. Das spannende ist, das beim Straßentheater alles hautnah, in wenigen Metern Entfernung geschieht. Man bekommt jede Facette, jedes Augenzwinkern in der Aufführung mit und gleichzeitig haben die Künstler scheinbar einen Mordsspaß daran, so dicht am Publikum zu sein und auch jede Menge Freiraum für Improvisationen zu nutzen. Das Wetter tat am Wochenende sein Übriges. Es war sonnig und warm und so wurde La Strada mal wieder zu einem herrlichen, befreienden Happening.

In diesem Jahr haben wir uns per Programm direkt an ein paar vielversprechende Veranstaltungsorte begeben und wurden natürlich kaum enttäuscht. Diese Acts haben wir sehen können:

Pieter Post & Marcel Ott (NL) - "Ministry of Shortcuts
21 Mini Akte auf der vermutlich kleinsten transportablen Bühne der Welt.
Tolle Unterhaltung! Wobei mir besonders die Erklärung gefiel warum Kinder schrecklich und verachtenswert sind...

Charles & Erika (D) - Die swingenden Tischbomben
waren für uns persönlich eher eine Enttäuschung. Sehr schrill, sehr albern und sicher mit einem gewissen Unterhaltungswert...nur eben nicht für uns.

JJ Stelzenart (D) - Die Knautschkapelle
Das erste knautschbare Kleinorchester auf Stelzen.
Uns allen bestens bekannt durch die Performances mit der Samba Band "Confusao"

Les Goulus (F) - "Les Horsemen"
berittenes Straßentheater
Die absoluten Lieblinge beim diesjährigen La Strada

Gira (ESP) - Tanztheater
Romantik & Action, Liebe, Ärger und Leidenschaft....tolle Sache!!

und natürlich meine diesjährigen, unangefochtenen Favoriten:
Les Elemets DISPOnibles (F) - "Les Contes 1-2-3"
Maskentheater
Was hier geboten wurde wahr schlichtweg atemberaubend. Mit relativ geringen Mitteln wurden hier ohne viele Worte Geschichten spielerisch und tänzerisch erzählt die ich trotz ungenügender Französisch Kenntnisse verstehen konnte. Ich glaub ich habe während der kompletten jeweils 30 Minuten meinen Mund vor Staunen nicht zu bekommen. Sehr professionell...-wer die Möglichkeit hat sie zu sehen, sollte es unbedingt warnehmen!

Eigentlich ist es aber unwichtig ob die Acts die dort performen besonders anspruchsvoll, witzig, artistisch oder sonstwas sind. Die ganze Veranstaltung gibt der Bremer City eine Art von Lebendigkeit, Gelassenheit, Intensität und Lebensfreude, die sonst höchstens noch annähernd beim jährlichen Bremer Samba Carneval erreicht wird

Überseetörn

Gestern war die offizielle Einweihung des Ludwig-Franzius-Platzes am alten Hafenkopf des Europahafens. Die haben sich beim Anlegen des ganzen Areals viel Mühe und Gedanken gemacht um sowohl den maritimen als auch den industriellen Charakter zumindest symbolisch zu erhalten. Die Terassen am Hafenkopf laden in lauschigen Nächten wohl zum Verweilen ein, aber das Vorhaben, diesen Platz zum neuen Treffpunkt dieses neuen, alten Stadtteils zu etablieren, wird sicher sehr schwer.
Für mich ein willkommener Rastplatz während einer Radtour oder auch um einen 1A Sonnenuntergang zu beobachten, doch der sehr coole und glatte Charme (?) dieses Areals ist nicht unbedingt meine Sache.

Am Abend, gegen 21.00h, spielten noch die Flying Soul Toasters. Die Bühne direkt vor dem Hafenbecken und die laue Samstagabend Luft waren natürlich tolle Voraussetzungen für die Toasters und so war es kaum verwunderlich das ihr Party Soul/Blues vom Publikum sehr gut angenommen wurde. Wir waren mit Jale da und sie hat es, wie schon bei Bremen swingt 2007, richtig genossen. Bis 23.00 Uhr hat sie vor der Bühne mit vielen andere getanzt. Dann kam die zweite Pause des Konzertes (ich frag mich wie lange die wohl noch gespielt haben???) und langsam ließen auch Jales Batterien nach.

War ein schöner Abend...sehr entspannt und lustig.

Kurzes Video von gaaaanz früh am Abend...

Roland von Bremen und Dudelei

Als wir am Samstag unsere kleine Radtour nach Bremen unternahmen und uns zum Verschnaufbier an der Schlachte hinsetzten wurden wir Zeugen eines wohl nicht alltäglichen Schauspiels.
Auf der Hansekogge Roland von Bremen die hier ihren Stammplatz hat, brach auf einmal hektische Betriebsamkeit aus denn die Segel wurden gesetzt! Bei der Takellage und der seichten Brise sicher kein leichtes Unterfangen zu dem auch mehrere starke Hände benötigt wurden.

Es war toll anzusehen und wir haben uns gefreut zur richtigen Zeit am richtigen Ort gewesen zu sein.

Auf dem Weg zur Schlachte hörten wir urplötzlich laute Dudelsack und Trommelklänge aus einem Parkhaus. Also hin da und nachgesehen was da los ist. Die Damen und Herren von Crest of Gordon, Drums and Pipes konnten es kaum erwarten loszulegen. Feine Sache. Hat mir gut gefallen!

Geocaching Mega Event Bremen

Lytha remembered me with her comment that I did not post a word so far about the Geocaching Event "Project *G*A*M*E*" taking place in Bremen, May 31st. It is a huge meeting of geocachers and as I heard from Andreas (one of the organizers of the event) they were expecting it to be a Mega Event already after the first week when this event was listed. The funny thing is that groundspeak did not believe that this event could reach the "mega" status of at least 500 participants. Today it is January 30th, so still 4 months to go until the event, but there are already 527 geocachers who wrote their "will attend" log. That's gonna be a real huge event!!

Of course I will take place in this event. I am curious to meet a lot of geocachers (hello "Donaucachers"...) there and besides that, there is one particular reason why I should be at least close to that event: I have a geocache situated right in front of the entrance of the event place. It used to be a regular box, but since it was muggeed 2 times, I temporarily changed it to a mikro cache. When I look at the many geocachers who will attend the mega event, I am afraid that I will have to make it a regular or large box again, even if only to hold an amount of logbooks!

Los Linkos:
Geocaching Mega Event Bremen 2009 GC1JZ92
Mega Event Project *G*A*M*E*
My geocache GC10881

Christmas market Bremen

Yesterday we went to the Christmas market in Bremen. It is said to be one of the nicest christmas markets in germany and it is attracting lots of toursits. And yes, I have heard so many different languages around that I felt as if abroad. The market is situated right in the heart of the centre of Bremen on the historical market square with the old town-hall and the cathedral around. Very scenic spot.
I was surprised to see not only the usual food and drink booths there but a lot of arts and crafts being sold as well. And those crafts were mostly handmade and not some imported "made by diligent childrens hands" bulk-ware. Means for me: nice to look at those crafts but unaffordable to buy.

Christmas markets don't seem to be very common in other countries and I wonder if you have something similar in your country?? Drop me a line, I am curious.
If you wann look at some (not too well taken...) photos, check out the few I have taken last night.

Freimarktsumzug Bremen

Here is a recording from our visit at the parade for the Bremen Freimarkt. There were more than 130 participating groups, bands and parade floats and approximately 200.000 spectators watching this huge parade in the streets of Bremen.

My video is of pretty poor quality after the Youtube converter did its work. If you wanna look at it in good quality, you should go here and chose "best quality" for the player.

Freimarkt Bremen 2008

Ischa Freimaak...that`s how the people in Bremen usually welcome their "5th season" the Bremer "Freimarkt"

And as usually, we took an evening off to enjoy this huge fun fair.
Not much to tell about it. A lot of eating, laughing, looking around and trying some roundabouts.
This year Jale refused to ride a "kids roundabout". She is old enough now to try something more "dangerous", some caroussels for adults! We decided that a "chairoplane" (very fast and pretty high!!) and the big wheel should do for this year. Next year we will have a try at some even more dangerous things ;-)

Knoops Park (repost)

I blogged a post about this beautiful park in the northwest of Bremen in 2007 already. This sunday our way lead us there again. We enjoyed it so much and found it so very special again, that I decided to repost some words and new photos about this park again.

"Knoops Park" situated in the north of Bremen near the river "Lesum" was one of the nicest parks that we have seen around Bremen. It is not only the tidyness and the old, old trees (some of them more then 100 years old) that make this park special to me. But because it was founded and by an old Bremen merchant who also had kind of a castle in this park, it still has something like an aristocratic touch...a very special charactere. Hard to describe...come here and find out yourself ;-)

So, the park is about 65 hectare large, named after the founder "Baron Ludwig Knoop" (1821-1894). In 1870 the Baron gave order to the garden-architect "Wilhelm Benque" to build a park along the banks of the river "Lesum". The result was a huge park with lots of narrow, winding ways and many resting places. The area itself is a bit hilly and gives the viewer a good look over the whole scenery including the river.
Only 16 years later the castle "Schloss Muehlental" was built in the centre of the park. The castle was not really in use and none lived in there for a longer time, so, in 1933 the shabby castle was totally demolished and today there are only some rocks left that give an idea of where the castle once stood.

Musikfest Bremen

Musikfest in Bremen? Ein lauer Sommerabend? Da haben wir uns kurz entschlossen auf den Weg gemacht um uns einmal selber von dem "stimmungsvoll illuminierten Marktplatz" faszinieren zu lassen.
Als wir ankamen dämmerte es gerade erst und gleich um die erste Ecke spielten irgendwelche Lebenskünstler mit sog. "Klanginstallationen"...ouh...Geige, Akkordeon und Bass sind ja eigentlich nicht die schlechteste Kombi und obwohl ich mein komplettes Wohlwollen aktiviert habe, habe ich nix Tolles an diesem schwurbeligen Krimskrams finden können. Lustig war, als ein Opa vom Bratwurststand kam und sich beschwerte, er könne nicht in Ruhe essen...da hieß es von seiten der "Performer": "sie können gehen, sie müssen nicht bleiben"! Opa konnte aber nicht weil er da nun mal sowohl Wurst als auch Frau und Sitzplatz hatte...lapidare Antwort des musizierenden Volkes: "Das ist uns scheißegal"!
Am Ansgari Kirchhof spielte zu der Zeit das "Power Trio Romero" die uns dann wieder mit der Welt versöhnten. Die 3 (Schlagzeug, Standbass, Sax) spielten friedlich, akzentuiert und auf den Punkt ihre swingenden Interpretationen in einer Art von Smooth Jazz (keine Ahnung ob man das wirklich so nennt).
Der Gang durch die City war denn auch nicht so wirklich angenehm weil es sich richtig füllte. Kein Wunder, denn auch die Geschäfte hatten bis Mitternacht geöffnet. Wir, die wir keine Karten für irgendeines der Konzerte hatten, haben uns einfach mit einem ausgedehnten Spaziergang begnügt und die Beleuchtungen auf dem Marktplatz waren wirklich klasse. Hätten wir unseren Zwerg nicht dabei gehabt, wären wir sicherlich noch länger geblieben.
Alle Gebäude (Rathaus, Dom, Bürgerschaft, Schütting) waren dezent mit blauen Lichtern erleuchtet und auf dem Marktplatz wurde mittels mächtiger Strahler und ner Menge Kunstnebel ein eindrucksvolles, stimmungsvolles, ständig wechselndes Bild in den Abendhimmel gezaubert.
Alles in allem ist mir die Stimmung beim Musikfest allerdings ein wenig zu steif. Sehr viele ältere Leute in sehr feinem Zwirn geben der Veranstaltung sicherlich etwas stilvolles, für mich ist es aber ein wenig zu steif.

Ein paar Fotos im größeren Format sind mir gelungen, die Video Aufnahme allerdings nur bedingt. Für diese Art von Illuminationen ist meine kleine Canon dann doch nicht gemacht. Na, egal, hier ist sie:

Samba Carnival Bremen 2008

Samba Carnival in Bremen is one of the top events for us to enjoy. As every year, the city was crowded with some 20.000 spectators who wanted to enjoy Europe's biggest Samba Carnival. There were Samba Groups from everywhere in Europe, drumming and dancing their way through the streets of Bremen. The main topic of this event was called "Delicatessen" this year and so we saw lots of perfect costumes...spicy, fresh and funny ones!!
We stood there, danced and watched the groups for 3 hours...but that was only the beginning. The party went on in clubs and dancehalls all night long...
Have a look at the photos of this event here.

Bremer Freimarkt

The Bremen Freimarkt is the third largest fun-fair in Germany after the "Oktoberfest" in Munich and the "Cannstatter Wasn" in Stuttgart. Lots of caroussels, roundabouts, food and drinks.We always join the Freimarkt. We usually do not spend too much money on it but enjoy the special atmosphere.

Do you want to join us? We took some photos and you can view them here.
If you are interested, you can also download some wallpapers/screensavers here.

Music and Light

As every year, we visited one of the nicest events in Bremen: Music and Light at Hollersee. Classical music in the dark, outside on a stage in Bremens most beautiful park near the lake "Hollersee". We have been there maybe 10 times already and this sunday we have again been fascinated by the atmoshere and the very well performed music.
This time there have been about 20.000 (!!!) people enjoying this event.

The official information:
The biggest musical event in Bremen's Bürgerpark is the concert "Music and Light at Hollersee". The Bremen School of Music plays classical pieces and well-known modern works conducted by Heiner Buhlmann on the stage in front of Hollersee. On this occasion Hollersee (a pond) is illuminated while young and old listen to the music with torches in their hands and enjoy the mood and fireworks during the concert. This event is sponsored by all those involved and is additionally funded by renowned Bremen companies. The proceeds from the sale of torches also go as a donation directly to the Bürgerpark's coffers. Not to forget the Play Activity Programme, whose organizers and staff take part in selling torches at the event as volunteers.

Childrens Day

Yesterday was a huge event in Bremen: It was Childrens Day. This event is like a big party for kids with lots of toys and different exercises/games to play. It is a yearly happening always under the motto: Making kids strong (In German: Kinder stark machen). Means that children should be raised in a responsible way, showing them the good stuff in life, giving them self-confidence and holding them back from drugs, criminality etc.
I don't know how many children have been there yesterday, but in our newspapers it was written that there were about 700 people who made this event possible and did all their work for free. Must have been some thousand children there.

La Strada

Today we took a walk through Bremen again and all over sudden noticed that there was "La Strada" - the street circus festival taking place in Bremen. We couldn't see too much of all the performances because it was saturday afternoon, sunny and warm...it simply was too crowded. And since the artists don't perform on stages but on the streets, it is not too easy to see anything if you stand in 10th row or something. But what we saw was an impressive show of an english/dutch couple ("Fullstop Acrobatic Theatre") performing a mix of acrobatics and theatre play...Highly recommended...very impressive...very professional.
If you are interested, here is the official information. Check out the site if you like.
Since thirteen years the international street circus festival LA STRADA takes place in Bremen.
The festival offers a surprising and exciting programme and changes for one weekend the atmosphere in the town. Acrobats and artists, dancers and dreamers, clowns and comedians, mimes and performers, LA STRADA offers all aspects of street performing arts.
This summerly street circus spectacle has become one of the largest and most colourful festivals of its type and is well known all over the world.
During four days international artists present the freaky and flashy but also the quiet and beautiful aspects of street theatre for free. In the evenings, the LA STRADA artists perform highlights of their shows at the great Circus Gala. The visitors support the festival by buying the festival programme and the festival button.

Swinging Worship

Some days ago I posted a note about the Bremen Jazz Festival.
Today it was the last day of the festival and it was a sunny day, so we intended to join the crowd again. First we took part in the worship held in the St. Petri Dom and a band of the Bremen Jazz Festival, the "Swing Company" was the musical support inside the church. They played songs like "When the Saints", "Amen", "Nobody knows the trouble I've seen" and lots of german traditionals too. Well, I like participating in the worship and especially in such famous and impressive churches as the Bremen "St. Petri Dom", but I did not like the music, I did not like the way how the sermon was preached. So, I let my thoughts flow free into this wide church and when my soul landed back in reality, I felt as if only 10 minutes and not 90 minutes had passed.

But I really was proud of Jale who was with us and she was such a good girl for all this long 90 minutes. What a great personality already!!!

After the worship, we spent more then 4 hours in Bremen city again, listening to the music, strolling around, having some snacks and cookies. But it was not as nice as it was some days before. Why??? Well, all shops were opened this sunday afternoon (usually in germany all shops are closed on sundays), the sun was shining and a lot of music was flooding the streets of the city centre. It was a huge crowd...everyone was friendly and relaxed but it was full of people and you had to queue everywhere for everything. Not really "my cup of tea"...Besides that, the music today was more like Jazz for old aged, not like an adventureous trip.

Anyway it was a good day for us and for some hours I forgot that tomorrow will be my first working day again after 6 weeks of absense....omg...how can that possibly work out good at all?????????????????

Bremen Jazz Festival

Today we visited the Bremen Jazz Festival.
On 3 stages in the city centre of Bremen there will be about 200 musicians performing Jazz and Swing music of different kinds. From traditional New Orleans Jazz to Blues, Free Jazz, Son/Salsa, Improvisations and old fashioned smooth and soft Swing.

It was the first time that Jale was with us late in the evening and we all enjoyed it so much. The first band we met near a shopping mall. A marching band from Netherlands performing the traditional New Orleans Jazz on the streets. Jale had a 30 minutes warm-up for dancing here ;-)

Around 8.00 p.m. we were at the biggest stage on market square to join the concert of the "Flying Soul Toasters". That was impressive!!! A band of 10 musicians including a fantastic horn section and 3 singers. All dressed in black suits and wearing sunglasses they were performing a party-music. They played power Blues and Soul songs of a wide range from Blues Brothers Band, James Brown, Aretha Franklin etc. etc. That was the perfect music for an open-air party and none was able to stand still there. A perfect concert!

After we danced an hour in the first row, Jale began to get tired and so we made our way back to the car. On our way, there was another stage where a band called "Casino" was performing improvisations on traditional Cuban Son and Salsa music. They played "unplugged" and it was fascinating. A mix between fun, hot temper, rhythm but also melancholy and sentimentality. I danced there for some 15 minutes more, with Jale on my arms, before we returned back home.
I am sure that we will remind this night for a long time.

The Bremen Jazz Festival will last from August 09th - 12th and I hope that we will find the time to take part again.

Buergerpark Bremen

Today I want to introduce Bremens most beautiful park to you. We go there nearly every week to enjoy the peacefull atmosphere and the relaxed people there. It is situated right in the centre of Bremen ... kind of a green lung, with a small zoo, and some playing grounds. You can also rent a rowing boat there or simply enjoy the well-kept, cultivated gardens. I have chosen some photos to give you an idea and I would recommend the website to you. It is also available in english.

Osterwiese, Bremen

On April 12th we have been to the "Osterwiese" in Bremen. Osterwiese is a fun-fair with carousels, fun and a lot of food and drinks. We spent about 2 hours there but it was hard to convince Jale of the fact that those carousels won't be open all night for 4-5 year old kids.

However it was perfect weather, especially for a ride with the big wheel in some 52 metres height. It was such a fantastic view up there with a low and warm wind . We were not sure if Jale wouldn't maybe cry because she might be afraid of the height...but all she said was: "why is this going so slow??"

After the big wheel, she drove with several roundabouts and finally rode on a real horse. This seemed to have been the most fascinating and impressive thing for her. She continously kept talking about that on our way home.



Is it true that all girls love horses?? And why is that?? Any explanation?? Anyone?? Please tell me....

10.02.2007 Samba Carnival, Bremen

Is there anywhere in your cities a carnival celebration going on?? I would be happy to hear about that!!!

Yesssss....today was a good day. Since I do not work saturdays anymore, we took the opportunity today to go to the Bremen city centre and have a look at the Bremen carnival. The Bremen carnival is different to other german carnival celebrations. Totally different!!! It is a pure Samba Carnival. With Samba Music and lots and lots of groups performing, living and enjoying the samba performances. The whole thing starts at the historical market place and the following procession is about 3-4 km long.

This year the motto was "Carnival Industrial" which sounded a bit strange to me first. But any motto makes sense to give a unique idea for all the participants and their costumes. We arrived by tram in the centre and as soon as we got out, we heard a roaring...some strange noise coming from everywhere of the city. Sounded a bit threateningly (as if "Orks" where on their ways...) but the nearer we got, the more we recognized what was going on: All the Samba Schools, Groups and Bands were playing the drums together long time before the official start. As if they wanted to drum themselves into some kind of Trance and to forget the daily troubles for some hours and dive into a flush of music, movement, smiles and fun. It was great...undescribable!!!

Remember...Bremen is situated in the north of Germany and today we had some -2°C...but somehow the whole crowd (including audience and performers) have been a moving crowd..steaming, pumping, drumming.

Today was one of the few days when I regreted that I stopped playing the drums some 15 years ago.