Euro 2016 Flags up in Cologne
Cologne · Football takes on an international flair in Cologne during Euro 2016.
“Mir sin multikulinarisch un sin multikulterell” might look like a strange form of German and that’s because it is. It’s the Kölsch dialect used by some native Cologne residents and the phrase means they consider themselves diverse when it comes to both food and culture. As proof, passers by can see apartment buildings fully dressed in their international soccer wardrobe during Euro 2016. Colorful flags from the countries of all Euro 2016 participants adorn the exterior walls.
In the Belgian Quarters of Cologne on Flandrische Straße, a modern white apartment building is all decked out with national flags from ground floor to the penthouse. Moving on to a part of Cologne called Neuehrenfeld, the flags on their building exterior are actually a tradition. Since 2008, residents of Iltisstraße have been decorating their building for European and World Championships. “It’s nice to see how parents explain the different flags to their children,” says resident Thomas Linn. The apartment house is also famous on Facebook where it has been “shared” and “liked” numerous times.
What is not true, however, are reports on Facebook that people from all of those countries represented in the soccer tournament, are living in the building. Certain is that the flags will remain on colorful display until the tournament ends, regardless of whether a team makes it to the finals or not.
Are you decorating your home for Euro 2016? Send us your photos to bonn@ga.de
Orig. text: bsb/ck
