Joe and I must also add our huge Thank You to Bernie for his most generous sharing of his beautiful garden apartment in the middle of Dusseldorf for the party Saturday afternoon. Also, huge thanks to the adorable Mizu and the ever redoubtable Rudi for their efforts to enhance our pleasure on this most wonderful of weekends.

For those of you who have never experienced opening day of carnival in Dusseldorf, let me tell you it is a very amazing party. We began at 11:11 a.m. in the square in front of City Hall (people passing beer through the cowded streets) and continued on until somewhere in the neighborhood of the next morning in the lobby of the Nikko hotel. I am happy to report that all were able to leave under their own power, however, must admit that there were perhaps one or two who required navigation assistance.

I am totally impressed with with the friendly, party atmosphere of Dusseldorf and am quite anxious to return, perhaps someday to enjoy the whole 5th season, which starts 11/11 each year and continues on through Ash Wednesday. Now that is a serious Madi Gras celebration! The most fun part for me was that all of this partying seemed to be carried out in great part by people as old as I, which, of course, made me feel very young.

Every time I attend a major FlyerTalk event, it reinforces how much I would hate to miss the next one.