What's up you're watching Vagabrothers
and this is carnival in the Rhineland.
No matter where it's celebrated, Carnival is one of the most epic parties on earth - from
Brazil to New Orleans, but when we think of carnival most of us don't think about Germany
Carnival first came to Germany with the Romans worshipping Bacchus, the god of wine, and
later pagans celebrating scaring away the demons of winter.
But it was adopted in the middle ages by Catholics who turned it into a way of letting loose
before 40 days of Lent.
Doesn't look like humanity has changed very much because 1000 years later people are still
getting smashed.
The best place to experience Carnival in Germany is in the two neighboring cities in the Rhineland
- Cologne and Dusseldorf - which also happen to be arch-rivals.
Not unlike two hyper competitive brothers, the rivalry between Dusseldorf and Cologne
started way back in the day.
Cologne was founded first, by the Romans no less.
It became a major trading hub on the Rhine and an important Catholic pilgrimage site
thanks to its beautiful and world famous Cathedral.
Whatever, Dusseldorf might be younger, and not as big until it's adolescence when it
flourished with industrialization, making rich and eventually
the capital of the entire region...
Take that haters in Cologne!
For locals, the rivalry is endless, but what matters to us is beer
So we decided to kick off Carnival by comparing the two city's different beers.
Well one of the major differences between Cologne and Dusseldorf is the beer.
In Cologne they drink Kolsch and in Dusseldorf they drink Alt bier, which means old beer.
So we're going to learn a bit more by taking a tour of
some of the microbreweries here in town...
Thirsty?
Yes but probably ready to give up beer after carnival!
Definitely, let's roll.
Dusseldorf's old town has over 300 drinking establishments and has been called the longest
bar in the world because all the pubs used to be connected.
But we were interested in learning about AltBier - a top-fermented, malty brew that sticks
out in a land ruled by lagers.
So we met up with Dario from AltBier Safaris, who took us to five different breweries that
make small batch Altbier.
We asked Dario to explain why he preferred Altbier to Colonge's Kolsh but after a night
of boozing, his answer was quite blunt.
We say when a horse drinks beer and goes piss afterwards...that's Kolsch.
Despite the difference beer culture is cool in both cities.
Waiters called Kobes, serve beer in small glasses on a brauhaus - in Dusseldorf it's
a tray and in Cologne it's like a little beer basket.
In both cities, the waiters tally your drinks on your coaster and automatically give you
a refill unless you put your coaster on top of the glass.
If in Bavaria, they drink big beers slowly, here they drink small beers quickly.
Which was a great way to get started for Carnival.
Our second day of Carnival was also Valentine's Day, and being young 21st century bachelors
we got some costumes and went out looking for fraulines the modern way...
Left, left, left, right...oh match!
Oh nice! Happy Valentine's day bro!
Guy's here's the sad pathetic truth, it's Valentine's Day we have really mediocre costumes
and we don't really have a plan.
So we're going to go to what we believe is a Drag Queen beauty contest. Something new
for us definitely going to be an experience...
It should be fabulous.
Here's to an interesting evening!
Cologne and Dusseldorf are known for their tolerance. Their position as trading cities
have long brought together people from many different backgrounds, an ethos alive today.
What was happening inside was unlike any event we've ever been to. It. Was. Wild...
So we asked some of the contestants what it was all about.
Taking a group photo with all the ladies of the evening...the belles of the ball.
There is a competition they have all the music they have to dance and maybe lip sync for
their life!
What's the best part about tonight?
The dancing and the fun of course.
Everything from the beginning to the end.
I would say the drinking!
It's just fun, just fun.
It's our first time at a show like this so,
So where are your heels?
My heels?
I'm wearing boots! Hiking boots!
Well that was probably the most unique experience I've ever had...
That was just a great time, this is a very tolerant city and we had a fun time
We expanded our horizons.
I enjoyed myself that was awesome.
The party continued into the night, but the next day was Carnival Sunday
The big day in Dusseldorf.
Alright guys well last night was insanity but the party has not slowed down it's two
in the afternoon and we're still at it!
This whole town is full of people coming in from other cities around the region so before
we dive into the party we're heading across the river to check out a more traditional
custom called the barrel race.
I guess we took a little too much time getting across the river to Niederkassel, because
by the time we got there the barrel race was already finished. Whoops!
But no worries, on the other side of town the normally quiet shopping street of Koenigsallee
was full of partiers, so we made our way over and joined in the festivities.
So this right here is a Dusseldorf local drink, called Killepitsch also called Kill-a-bitch
Mark's going to try it.
I've seen a lot of people drinking it like this.
It's like Jaegermeister but oh- ho- ho-
Let's go!
The next day we moved up the Rhine to Cologne, home to Germany's biggest Carnival.
It also happened to be Rosemantag, or Rose monday, the big day for Cologne.
By 10AM the streets were swarming with people lining up to see Cologne's parade floats,
the most famous of which are the Red and Blue Sparks, social clubs that dress up like soldiers
from the time when the occupying Prussians tried to repress Carnival.
The main parade is about to start, the festivities
have been going wild for the last couple of hours
And now we're right in front of the Cathedral and the main parades are about to pass by
but their going to go for five hours. So we're going to see a little of this one and then
dive into the party and meet some people.
After watching the parades, it was time to seek out the last night of partying... or
should I say, the final countdown?
As the sun set, the streets filled up with partying carnival fools, known locally as
Jecks, and we joined them and partied into the wee hours of the night.
On the next night locals finish Carnival by burning effigies, know as nubbles,
a symbolic cleansing of all the year's sins...at least until the next carnival
Alright guys that was our experience here in the Rhineland for Carnival. It was awesome
if you guys ever get the chance make sure you come!
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See you guys on the road!