7 August 2009

Watching the World Go By

Parade Watchers
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.

Gay Pride Parade Watchers

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.

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

City Hall Square
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.

3 comments:

  1. lovely bikes. esp the yellow one!

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  2. Too bad we weren't quite as bikey around here when the first OutGames started here in Montreal in 2005!

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  3. paradis!
    as in heaven, not vanessa.
    i got the pronunciation all wrong first time and hilarity ensued.
    i looked a fool.

    nice "is", though.

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