NRW Day

Above is the coat of arms of the Bundesland (state) Münster is in. The state was formed after the second world war combining three culturally separate areas, Rhineland, Westphalia, and Lippe. Today it is known as North-Rhine Westphalia (NRW).

Since I have been here there has been one Feiertag (holiday) each week which means nothing is open. Well, there are a few Kiosks that are open (similar although smaller in size and selection to a gas station) and a few restraunts. Oh, and all the ice cream shops. Germans love ice cream more than Utahns, it's strange. Cold and rainy? People are still walking around with their cone and a scoop or two. Anyhow...today was another holiday which meant planning ahead yesterday and making sure you had food for today. It also means that everyone leaves the city and there are really no people on the streets. This specific holiday, Corpus Christi, is celebrated only in NRW and not the surrounding Bundesländer. Being this way everyone leaves Münster for the day and heads to Osnabruck or the Netherlands to go shopping and play and so is known as NRW Day in all the surrounding areas of Münster. It's a little strange, I think next week there will be no holiday. I don't know what I am going to do with that extra day available for shopping!