Vienna has Gas

We all now know now that this is Karneval time in Germany. It's a major event celebrated by everyone throughout the country. The last thing the people want is a gas leak and unfortunately that's exactly what happened. On February 22 Viennas Landstraße experienced a gas leak. The ammonia gas was released from a refrigeration company and affected streets within a one-kilometer area and sending 40 people to the hospital to be treated for gas poisoning. There were a few neighboring concerts that either had the people kept inside or were canceled. The U3 U-Bahn line was also temporarily shut down.

This article caught my attention right away. A gas leak is a pretty big deal and the fact that it happened during Germany's biggest and most celebrated time of the year makes it an even bigger deal. The article didn't really go in to detail too much if the leak ruined some of the Karneval events but I'm sure it did put a damper on things. Not only is it bad that it happened during Germany's biggest parties, the leak also shut down the U-Bahn line. Having been to Europe I know how important the train systems are to the people over there. Trains for a lot of people are their main mode for transportation. To have the train line shut down, even if for a short period of time, probably messed up a lot of people’s days, not to mention waiting in train stations is not very fun.

I guess from me not being a gas leak expert, I was actually a little amazed at how many people responded to the gas leak. There were 60 policemen, 80 firemen, 40 rescue workers and all available chemistry specialists on hand at the gas leak. In my mind I keep comparing this gas leak and the reaction to it to the possibility of a gas leak happening during the Super Bowl or Mardi Gras in New Orleans, both major events in the US that many people attend and celebrate. Both would probably cause a panic just like the one in Vienna during Karneval.

http://www.austriantimes.at/news/General_News/2012-02-22/39692/Gas_leak_causes_chaos_on_carnival_evening

Karneval Fun

REUTERS

Here, in Düsseldorf, a float shows controversial author Thilo Sarrazin using a jousting lance to spear a Turkish woman and her children. Each year, the floats satirize the big news events of the past 12 months.

http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/fotostrecke-65424-18.html

Karneval training starts early in Düsseldorf.

http://www.thelocal.de/gallery/news/825/4/

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http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/fotostrecke-65422-26.html

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A raucous, alcohol-fuelled party fills the streets in Duesseldorf where the regional carnival season culminates with the Rose Monday parade.

http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/fotostrecke-65424.html


The German Karneval is a big, big deal for the Germans and their culture. If I had to compare the Karneval to something in the US it would probably have to be Mardi Gras in New Orleans. The Karneval is a celebration for them that everyone goes to, even babies as seen in one of the pictures I posted. It's not really a political thing but some politics and politians are brought into the action through the floats. I found the floats to be sort of humorous. I don't know the German politics (or ours for that matter) or their politians but the was they were displayed on the floats was very... different I guess you could say. I knew Germans had a different sense of humor but I didn't know how much different. It seems like they are doing with their floats what are politians do with their commercials but I guess in a more humorous way.

What I see when I look at those pictures is a group of people who just want to have fun, who are not afraid to be themselves and dress in crazy costumes and celebrate their cultures.