Was checking on some hostels for our scheduled conference in
October when I passed by Altermarkt or the old market area in this
city where tourists and Koelners alike are flocking for rounds and
rounds of Kolsch (local beer brewed in Cologne)when I saw rows of
white tents lining one pavement leading to the old city and crowd
of people flocking to Altermarkt.
The alleys were all lined with stands selling bags, silver ornaments,
t-shirts trinkets, belts, drinks, multi-cultural fingergoodies and info
stands for networking for gays and lesbians, holidays and health
info about HIV. There was this particular stand offering Health Check
and info about TransFamily.Near the Rathaus or City Hall, crowd of
elegantly dressed people were cheering and throwing rice, confetti
to newly married couples coming out of the ceremony hall. It was
the 7 of July on the year 2007, shortly coded as 07.07.07 and
it is a common belief that such combination of numbers brings
luck and harmony in marriage and so the rush of many couples to the
city hall to get official blessing and recognition for their
marital relationship...well marital can mean so many things and
what I would like to say is the legal relationship. Kasalang Opisyal.
(Sa atin sa Pilipinas, maraming possibilidad na makasal na
ilang beses, depende kung marami kang kilalang huwes at loyalists
sa record section ng mga city halls). I will not translate that one,
if you wish, ask a Pinay or Pinoy for this especial feature of
marrying in the Philippines. BTW, we have theoretically no divorce
law but that can like the word marital mean many surprising things.
So this is the weekend of the traditional, yearly Christopher
Street Day of Cologne with the parade scheduled today, this
sunny, beautiful Sunday.More posting later. Aloha ala Cologna!
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