Dusseldorf

Next time you see someone doing a cartwheel, think of Dusseldorf. It is the oldest tradition of the city and many souvenirs contain someone performing a cartwheel. Dusseldorf is also renowned for trade and fashion fairs, claiming to annually organize 1/5th of them in the world. We could only scratch the surface in the few hours we were there. Preferring to visit the old town we passed up its modern shopping section just yards from a pleasant beer garden in the old town. Luckily Frank was more adventurous. He walked all the way to the TV tower and got some photos of the unique architecture down there.

A statue in Dusseldorf honors the memory of Till Eulenspiegel, folk hero and itinerant practical joker who was thought to roam Germany around 1300AD. That's him on top of all those heads and books wearing a cap similar to that of a court jester. He traveled carrying a mirror and an owl. Two towns claim his remains, one with his name and the other with a carving of a mirror and owl. I guess he would like that.