Bums...

Köln is one of the largest cities in Deutschland. As you would expect with any big metropolis there are quite a few beggars, bums, and miscreants. One important thing to note is that there is a population of beggars that really defy what begging is about. This group seems to not just be down on their luck, as they say, but chose to lead a pan handling lifestyle. Earlier in the week I saw the standard falling down drunk guy, sleeping in a doorway, but there is another type. Outside of the local Rewe (my grocery store) there usually sits a couple of 'punk' type kids. Torn clothes, piercings, colorful hair, etc. They have dogs and are usually hanging out talking with cups for change out in front. Usually they have beers or snacks which confuses me as to why people would give them money. I act like I don't understand when they try and ask me for money when I'm passing by for groceries.

The cream of the crop though are not this gang, but two others that I've seen in the past 2 weeks in my wanderings of the city. Last week I saw a girl and her dog sitting in a busier area with the change cup out front. When I passed by later she was still there, but had two handy's (cell phones) out and was talking on one. If you're begging for money and have more cell phones than I do, why would I give you money? Also, an interesting note on this one is that Germans have the most cell phones per person in the world, averaging just over 2 handys per person.

The best example though of a beggar I've seen was sitting in the punks spot last night. Imagine King Hippo from super punchout sitting on the sidewalk leaning against a wall. His gut almost eclipsed his legs as he was sitting indian style. How does a beggar grow so large you may ask? But that's not the point of the story. A lot of people here will play music on the street to get change, which is acceptable, except when they make their kids do it (see previous entry about German laws). There was a pretty awesome guy in Düsseldorf Wednesday night who was playing the guitar, harmonica, and singing (I tossed him a few coins). Now I'm getting off track though. King Hippo had a boombox, and a nice one too. Instead of singing along or dancing he was merely rocking out to some crazy tunes while shaking his change cup to the beat. I only wish I had my camera to capture the hilarity of the situation. That video clip would have been worth a Euro or two...