I‘d been strolling through Dresden all day,beer here,bit of food there,more beer.Y‘know the way and went through the old market square where I couldn’t help notice there were seventeen—-yep I counted—-police vehicles dotted about and a small stage in the middle of the square.There were not too many other people around so I figured i‘d missed something on earlier and the coppers were Just ensuring the overtime was paid up to the hour...I was heading for Curry 24 which is around the corner where there seemed to be a fair few elderly people sitting with beer,Currywurst and flags.Quite a few flags...
I‘d spotted political posters dotted about the place all day so things fell into place.Sat down away from the flagists and asked a fella with his young daughter what was going on and he told me the AfD(Alternative für Deutschland) were having a rally in an hour.Well I had to hang around for this...
There was a small group of counter protesters at the back of the square.Maybe a hundred or so,catcalling & booing at various times as appropriate.The main rally had started and I’d say there were about eight or nine hundred there.Very underwhelming considering Dresden is an AfD stronghold ...the police seemed very relaxed about the whole thing,so much so that all the cafe bars were open around the square,
so the only sensible thing to do is grab a beer and pull up a chair...the demographics of the rally seemed to be very old former GDR residents.I don’t know if there’s a link there or not but I’d say probably...I didn’t see any,let’s call them footsoldiers for want of a better word,but sure there were one or two dotted about in the crowd.
Obviously I couldn’t understand anything that was said—-bloody hell I’d wigged out earlier when the automated checkout started the “ Unexpected Englisher in the bagging area“ palaver—I did pick out a few buzz words like „“Ausländer“ and „“raus“ so can infer the theme.It‘s pretty much bog standard stuff in any language.
Despite the flag waving and the attempted psychological stimulation of some dire music choices, apart from the odd cheer & boo( I think I heard „“Merkel“ at that point) the crowd were very subdued.Maybe the speakers lacked a certain gravitas.Maybe they needed someone who could grab them emotionally.Maybe they were waiting for...no I can’t say it.
Chatted to a bloke next to me.Late 20‘s Maybe.Born in Dresden But now lived in Bonn.Said he was ashamed the AfD was so big in Dresden & much of East Germany.Explained to me that many young people moving west owing to the rise of the right among other things. Interesting talk.
So anyway they went for a walk around a local church for some reason.Came back for another speech.Then a woman got up to sing the national anthem( surprised it was the modern version not the other one) rally over,all went home and the police clocked up another few hours overtime...all in all it was as dull as ditch water.
Anyway sparrows.What about them you say? Well I sort of miss the little buggers in London but over here in Dresden they‘re like little fucking velociraptors.Especially At the Currywurst Kiosk i have been too.No shame at all just an insatiable bloodlust for chips.Can‘t believe they’re not all 20 stone sitting in the park smoking tabs...when I was there yesterday a pigeon tried to muscle in and was quickly seen off by force of numbers.First time i‘ve ever felt sorry for a pigeon...
Don’t have nightmares kids...goodnight.
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