Our first stop in Bremen was the Tourist Information office, to collect a detailed map and seek advice about the must-see places.  Outside the shop was this curious model.

 

 

Inside, cute soft toy variations were on sale.

 

 

In the window were displays of all kinds of interpretations of what appeared to be the “Bremer Stadtmusikanten” – the Bremen Town Musicians, of which we knew nothing.

 

 

Of course, having discovered them, we couldn’t move for seeing yet more variations on the theme.

 

 

The souvenir shops had plenty of them.

 

 

There were books and bags with what appears to be the city logo on them.  We learned it was from a Grimm’s fairy tale and quickly read the story to satisfy our curiosity.  The book we read was illustrated by our favourite Janosch which was a timely reminder of other birthdays, when we read how beautiful Panama is.

 

 

Walking along the river, we enjoyed seeing the theme stretched further, like on the cycle path sign here.

 

 

Then in the Schnoor, we smiled at the “Bremen Musicians by night” T shirt, too.

 

 

We thought that the people of Bremen could well be fed up of seeing the image all over the place, because really, everywhere we looked it was there.

 

 

Or at least, it was referenced.

 

 

Of course, we saw the original too!

 

 

And one last parting shot in the mural in the railway station on our way back.

Enough!

(Thank you, Bremen)