​ Challenge #1: The Hometown Tour! 🌍 ​For our very first challenge, let's go on an adventure! ​Your Prompt: If I visited your city for only 24 hours, what is the one place I must see that isn't a typical tourist trap? Tell us why it's special! Maybe it's a hidden cafe with the best pastries, a quirky independent bookstore, a park with an amazing view, or a local market that comes alive on weekends. We want to hear about the real, local gems! ​Here's how to participate: • ​Record a 30 to 60-second audio or video clip (better) telling us about your chosen spot. Ps: Don't sweat the clock—if you get carried away because you love the topic, feel free to go longer! I'll kick things off with my own answer shortly! Can't wait to hear where you'll take us! Shout-out to my dear and brew-lliant friend @Gulistan Asan for this awesome idea: - feel free to attach a photo of your spot along with your clip! It’ll be great to actually see where you’re talking about. ​Let's speak up! 🚀

In the Rhineland (North Rhine-Westphalia), the street carnival begins TODAY on Weiberfastnacht (Women's Carnival Day), during which women traditionally symbolically "take over the reins." Typical customs include cutting off men's ties, "storming" town halls, and large street and pub parties starting at 11:11 a.m. In Cologne, the carnival season begins every year on November 11th at 11:11 a.m. and ends on Ash Wednesday (46 days before Easter Sunday). During this time, Carnival session and events take place daily everywhere, where there is a lot of celebrating (and a lot of drinking 😅). During these days, everyone is in costume. Up to two million spectators flock to Cologne for the Rose Monday parade alone. The people of Cologne are proud of their city, its cathedral, the Rhine, their language and its carnival. Thanks to its carnival songs, Cologne is the most sung-about city in the world. I could write so much more... 😅