May Day

The weather didn't play along. Set off to nearby Stephansried to see the Maypole celebrations organised by the Oldtimer Tractor Club only to find a sign it had been cancelled due to the weather.

Drove on to Ottobeuren and popped in to visit the Bavarian Red Cross organised Flea market held in and around the monastry's former agricultural buildings. It was cold at 6°C and no sun, so didn't feel too bad locking the dogs in the car for 30 minutes. Took a quick spin and spent 2 Euros on an old coffee bean mill, 5 Euros on a Radio/CD/Cassette player and 1 Euro on an ancient metal "Frigidaire" ice cube tray, the one with the mechanism to  break them, a reminder of my childhood in the 50's/60's in Trinidad where it was essential to daily life.

Then a spin around the Bannwald forest with the dogs, long chat with a lady and her boxer but that was about it.
The maypole ceremony had already taken place next to the Basilica. If I had been able to stop would like to have bliped a wonderfully painted bus with I think some advertising for a Tattoo tour - wonderful Scottish pipers on the bus. Perhaps it may come again one day, Ottobeuren gets lots of day triper buses.

Instead one of the stands at the flea market, someone specialising in old toys. Things like the box of "Märklin" building bits, the German equivalent of Meccano. Right at the back and sadly not really visible a number of steam machines. I think they cost around 300 Euros, apparently cheap. I don't think they were used.

A bit like the German Conservative Party (Mrs Merkel's) who do not put up any candidates in Bavaria, neither is the German Red Cross to be seen in Bavaria. Here we have the Bavarian Conservative Party and the Bavarian Red Cross.

Shame for all those who had planned big events today. Looks like things could be better on Thursday, Fathers (Ascension) Day and a public holiday.