For a long time I haven’t got the time to contribute here. Now I should like to share some of my recent experiences being kilted. I apologize for writing so much.

Last week ago I took two days off and set off for Cologne in Germany with the purpose of visiting Photokina (photo exhibition). My lovely wife couldn’t find the time to accompany me. Accordingly I was on my own. In fact it was her idea.
Prior to leaving I booked a room in a rather inexpensive but quite nice hotel in Düsseldorf which is situated some 30 kilometres north of Cologne.
When I drove off on Thursday about 4 am in the morning I was wearing a casual kilt (a below 40 £ poly viscose MacLeod of Harris Ancient tartan kilt – from The Gold Brothers) and as my luggage didn’t comprise any trousers, it had to be a trip full time kilted.
On the way I made a few breaks (ferry between Denmark and Germany, gas station, smaller town) making the 750 kilometres take nine hours before parking outside the hotel.

At the reception desk I was received by a friendly and natural polite young lady, reacting as if she every day would see hundreds of men in kilts.
Having installed myself in the room I was surprised, by the way, to find out that my cheap kilt had survived the many hours with its pleats still crisp and without any wrinkles at all.

I decided to take the train to Cologne rather than the car. Having changed to a Heritage Grey woollen kilt I walked over to the nearby railway station. A very service minded employee helped me at the ticket machine (fares are comprehensible only for native people) and he made an effort to tell me when the next train was to leave and from which platform.



From the Cologne main railway station I walked over the bridge to the opposite side of the sunlit Rheine where the exhibition area is placed.





Inside the following occurred:

When buying my ticket a young lady complimented me for the kilt.

When passing by a man talking into a microphone it sounded from the loud speakers:
“And among our many visitors we also have a man dressed the Scottish way; very nice to see, indeed.”

A guy with a Nikon D3 asked me - in English - permission to take my picture.
“It depends what you are going to use it for?” I told him.
He didn’t answer to that, but asked, making a humble gesture: “Please, couldn’t I?”
I accepted and he found a place where I posed and he took the picture.

Later I realized that I was the target of several photographing people inside and outside the exhibition, and them just doing it. Never mind. Yet I haven’t seen myself published anywhere.

A lady coming from behind touched my shoulder and when I turned around she smiled and asked: “You are not Scottish, are you?” She pronounced the O letters very “closed”.
“No, but you are yourself, I guess”, I answered.
She laughed confirming and touched my arm.

Late in the afternoon I walked along the Rheine and in the streets of Cologne, visited some shops, made some purchases and twice I had to ask some people about the direction to the railway station.
The only thing that might have been a little unexpected to them was that I addressed them in German.

Back in my hotel room I changed to a black argyle style jacket and went out in town for a late dinner.



Friday morning I took on a woollen Douglas tartan kilt and went down for breakfast. Some of the guests looked up and greeted, like they would probably always do.








After having checked out I spent almost three hours walking around the streets of Düsseldorf, then fetched my car at the hotel and changed to my olive Utilikilt Mocker, which might be more convenient for driving.



On my way back to home I made a few longer breaks. Perhaps the Utilikilt is harder for people to “place” than is a tartan kilt?

In Wuppertal with the “hanging” trains I lost my way to the parking house and when I asked a woman if she could help me, she just shook her head, looked at me with all signs of disgust and hurried away.



Well, it was the absolute one and only negative reaction to the UK.

Do any of you have the same impression of UK vs. Tartan?

Conclusion: Two great days full time kilted.


Greg