For example Allessia and Jessica Qiu from Belgium. They visit Bonn only for one day and want to admire the pink splendour with their own eyes. The many other sights in Bonn they want to have a short look at, but first a photo shooting is sxcheduled. For Ying Cih the cherry blossom in Bonn has also become the unofficial landmark of Bonn. She lives in Bonn for six months as an exchange student from Taiwan and has already seen a lot. But "the cherry blossom is the most beautiful so far," she says.

With the tourists from all over the world, the turnover for the shops in the old town also increases. Many of the local shopkeepers have joined forces in the Bonn Old Town Initiative and set up a programme for the time of the Bonn cherry blossom. Throughout April, the small shops around Heerstraße offer events that not only attract tourists, but also bring joy to the local residents. Victoria Harlos, deputy chairwoman of the Altstadtinitiative (Old Town Initiative), also deals with the topic outside the heyday - not only because the motif sells well all year round in her canvas print shop.

She has also set up a blog to keep all Old Town tourists up to date on the latest cherry blossom. Like in a live ticker she writes there about every piece of news in connection the pink clouds: When they finally leave, how long they can still be admired, and what else is on the program. For example the "Walk-In" in the tattoo studio "Cross my Heart": Here, tattoos are done without an appointment. The motive is - of course - the Bonn cherry blossom. Thomas Gimbel from "Platzhirsch Bonn" has adapted his assortment to the visitors too. Since this year he has been offering a specially designed folding card showing the front of Heerstraße. It took over a year to plan it, but "it has become a bestseller," he says proudly. During the cherry blossom season, his shop makes three times as many sales as before Christmas. That's why, in his opinion, the cherry blossom and its accompanying programme are indispensable for Nordstadt. "The old town needs that, many shops would have to close here probably otherwise.“

The events around the „Kirschblüte" are popular, both with Bonners, and with the tourists. But the hustle and bustle also has its downsides. In these weeks, residents of the old town can hardly get to work on time, have trouble going shopping or getting to kindergarten by car, as Elisabeth and Hans-Dieter Braselmann report, they just want to visit their children in the district. And many a resident seems so annoyed by the crowds of people that he/she only hastily and stressed out walks through the old town without having an eye for the natural phenomenon.

It is often demanded to open the streets in this time only for residents. Traffic has already been closed to buses. But instead, the cars from Cologne and the surrounding area sneak through the streets, and their passengers take photos and instagram stories out of the car. As if there weren't enough dangers lurking already: Many tourists show little consideration for the drivers and often only have their photos in their minds. The Bonn Old Town Initiative recently even had a sign put up with the words "Kirschblütenfotografen - Bitte Schritttempo fahren". What was actually meant to be a warning to be taken seriously spread at record speed on the Internet. Apparently also thieves took note of the sign, because it was stolen on Sunday - only two days after the being set up.

All the hustle and bustle has "almost something mediterranean about it," says Karina Racetin, "but it only lasts two weeks," she adds.

Despite all the stress, most residents are happy about the cherry blossom and proud to be a part of it.

(Original text: Chiara Leschnig, Translation: Mareike Graepel)