The Adventures of Latvian in the Philips City: Carnival

The Carnival is mostly celebrated in the southern part of the Netherlands. Officially it is three days - from Sunday to Tuesday - but people start celebrating a week before, preparing months before and thinking of costumes for the next carnival even a year before. So it is really huge event. Earlier it was a fest before the Ash Wednesday when the Lent starts (I think something similar to Russian Maslenitsa but in another way of celebrating) but now it is mostly just a party with a lot of beer and dressed up people. The craziest and niciest places to see it are Maastricht and Cologne.

So my carnival started on Thursday in F.O.R.T. - the bar of Chemical Engineering study association (did I tell you every department here has its own bar? ;)). And the night from Friday to Tuesday I spent in Maastricht with AEGEE people. The official AEGEE Maastricht event was cancelled because they did not have many participants but thank goodness I know Anita and Jonas. :)
Jonas organized a carnival party for international friends in his parents house. It was really great. But now some pictures to prove it and tell you how it all was going. :)

Carnival in F.O.R.T
First I was thinking of joining the party on Saturday but as you already know, my bike was stolen on Friday so I decided that I need some positive emotions instead.

Those guys were meeting me at the station in Maastricht - good start. Let me introduce them: Jonas (the Netherlands) the Duffman and Jako (Estonia) the Superman! :)

You can think that the wolf is wearing sheepskin for Carnival but it is just Lilo.

They had a costume for me as well so I could enjoy the Carnival from the very first evening and not to stand out of the crowd. Although not all the people were dressed up yet with the outfit it was much more fun. The coat was too long for me, so I had to watch out people do not step on it and fall.

All the people were drunk and happy, dancing on the streets because the bars were crowded. They sold beer from the windows straight to the street. Many people came to make pictures together and share the spirit.

I also tried to get a bit of the city view.

Next day we had a city tour. Unlike Eindhoven Maastricht is a city with the history and atmosphere. It is situated near Belgian and German borders so it was conquered many times.
With some fortifications

As always posing

Finding the way

There is a nice dieren park or animal park.

And small men always showing you the right way.

All the streets are decorated with Carnival flags - red-yellow-green - and bars have original signboards.

As in Eindhoven there is a need for urinals in the streets, a good alternative for walls and trees.

Would you like to enter the Gate of Hell?

A view of Maastricht

Posing again

Volunteer keeps the world turning.

The day before carnival near the city hall

The preparations for Carnival are very serious - there are several shops with everything you might need for dressing up.

Can you often see all kind of animals, courtiers and spirits in a line for fast food?

Two churches are not used as they are supposed to be used. One is a book store and another used to be a night club. Who knows why it is not anymore...

Vrijthof - the main square

The second night out. We have 5 more people joining us. Canadian Melissa, Hungarian Dora and American Laura and the sister of our dear host Dutch Olga and his girlfriend Brazilian Raquel.