Though we haven't seen much of the sights of the city itself (at least I haven't yet because I've only been here a day), we took the train north of the city to catch the last day of horse racing this season. Being avid horse racing fans, we didn't want to miss our last chance to see a horse race especially since Great Lakes Downs is closing down.
When we got to the track, we noticed right away that everything was very different than any of the other racetracks we had ever been too. Very few cars in the parking lot, yet many people. When we walked through the main entrance, we entered a courtyard where there was band playing live music. I suspect it was in German because I couldn't understand the words! Scattered throughout the courtyard were food vendors selling brats, crepes, and these little circle things that looked like pancakes. There were vendors selling hats, other vendors selling candy, and it was just like being in a little Bavarian village. The whole courtyard area was again lined in cobblestone and there wasn't a piece of trash on the ground anywhere...not even one cigarette butt.
As I walked around taking pictures of everything, Steve decided to get a beer and try to figure out the racing program. I gave up trying to read it since everything was in German and the only thing I could understand was the name of the horses. Besides that, I was more excited about watching the people than I was betting anyway. As I walked around, I was mesmerized by the huge turn out. There were people everywhere. Not just old people, not just young people...but families and kids. It was like a huge social event. Perhaps it was because it was the last race of the season but it almost seemed like this was tradition or something.
But the most interest part about everything were the Dogs. There were Dogs everywhere! EVERYONE brought their dogs! I don't mean a dog here or there, I mean everywhere you looked. It was as if dogs were a status symbol and people brought their dogs to show them off. And what I found even more strange was the fact that some of the dogs played in the grass fields right up to the fence of the track before the races. I was so envious because in Michigan, if you want to bring your dogs anywhere to play, you have to have them on a leash. So even if you do find someplace, they still really can't play. But here, you can pretty much take your dogs anywhere. Makes me really miss Morgan and Jack because if they were here, we could take them everywhere! And just from sizing up the competition here, they would be the best looking dogs at the races today!
So, back to racing itself. The horses here run around the track the opposite direction than they do back home. Go figure...Germans drive on the same side of the road and in the same direction but the horses run the wrong way...doesn't make much sense does it? Anyway, Steve finally deciphered the program while I was people watching and was proud to make his first bet. I picked my horse by name (which proved to be a poor method of betting). And once our bets were placed, we walked out to the track to watch the race.
Keep in mind, 15 minutes before we placed our bets, the grassy field was filled with frolicking dogs. There were few people. Now 10 minutes before the race, the field is full of people...people everywhere. The race finishes and people flood back to the courtyard. They flock toward the vendors to buy food. They order beer like they'll never drink again. And the field is again completely barren left for the dogs to play. This was the process all afternoon before and after every race. It was the strangest most bizarre thing I've ever seen at any of the racetracks we've ever been to.
A few other things I found very interesting. A day at the horse track in Cologne is meant to be an upper class sort of experience and the reason I know this...the bathrooms. Remember how I almost paid .50EU to use the UNISEX bathroom in Dusseldorf? Well, listen to this experience...you won't believe it! After drinking coffee all morning, I had to go to the bathroom really bad but I was afraid to go out of fear that I would once again have to pee next to a guy. So I held it as long as I could. When I couldn't hold it any longer, I decided it was time to go...unisex or not.
But before I could use the bathroom, I first had to look up how to ask where it was. I grabbed my English/German dictionary and found out they call them "Toilettens" in German. So I asked someone where they were (proud that they understood me) and when I finally found it, there was a lady standing in the doorway. There was a sign that said, ".30EU". I thought "OK...at least this one's cheaper than the other one". I started to dig in my purse for some money when she grabbed my coat. I thought, "what the heck is she doing?". She was smiling the whole time and gibbering something to me in German. Then she walked over to the bathroom stall, took a clean towel, sprayed the toilet seat, washed it all down nice, and then motioned me inside. What in the world! I have never, ever seen that happen anywhere before in my life! Not even in the fanciest restaurant I have ever been in. Toilet Service...can you believe that! I didn't give her .30EU...I gave her .75EU! She gave me a big hug in return and told me it was too much..."Danka, Danka, Danka" she said. Needless to say, I spent a lot of money going to the bathroom at the races today!
Other highlights, between races, Steve and I wandered around checking out different food vendors and took in our first authentic German food...Bratwurst. It was awesome. It didn't taste too much different than the ones you'd get at Tulip Time but they were a little spicier. After that we had something we've never had before and we really weren't sure what they were until we bit into them. We watched other people eating them all day, and they looked like pancakes. They seemed to be dipping them in applesauce. From what we could gather, they were fried pancakes. And that's pretty much what they were. Big hashbrown patties that you dip in applesauce. It was kind of a strange combination, but they really weren't that bad and they really tasted pretty good with a cup of coffee.
In summary, we didn't win much money. I think I spent more money going to the bathroom today than I actually did betting on races! But it's a race day we'll never forget! Between the authentic food, the live music, and watching the horses race the wrong way we probably had one of the best times we've ever had at the races!
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