Watching the World Go By

Copenhagen has just hosted the World OutGames - the largest sport and art festival for gay and lesbians - the LGBT community as it's called. It lasted a week and there were around 5000 guests in Copenhagen. What a party. There were serious sports events and crazy ones, too, as well as a host of cultural events. Non-stop. 24-7.



It all peaked at a parade through the city on the penultimate day and I went down with the kids to have a look and to walk along with the masses towards the City Hall Square.

People lined the streets along the whole festive route and, not surprisingly, bicycles were involved.


The whole affair puts a new meaning on this classic tourism poster from the 1940's, back when gay meant something quite different.


A few days later, after things had quietened down, there was still ample opportunity to watch the world go by on the City Hall Square. From the foreground: An elderly chap on his standard-issue electric scooter, the Fruit Bike selling fresh fruit cups, the Paradis ice cream bike and, in the background, a long row of cycle taxis.