streets of Bonn empty

Most Americans have a hard time comprehending the non-existence of Sunday commerce in Europe. Add to that usual fact the rain that’s been falling steadily all morning, and Bonn is as dead as it could possibly be. I took a morning stroll with an umbrella.

I can still remember when American Sundays were fairly dead as well– as late as the mid-1970’s. Alcohol sales were absolutely not allowed on Sundays, including in bars. When our local small-town Iowa variety store first announced (in 1978 or so) that it would begin to open at noon on Sundays rather than remaining closed all day, it was a tentative and somewhat bold step.

Looking forward to Martin Hägglund’s lecture tomorrow.