6 days in Düsseldorf

I have spent 6 very enjoyable, but *very* tiring, days in Düsseldorf. I was in For my day job I was exhibiting at the *enormous* Medica trade show. This is the largest medical trade fair in the world and apparently the 5th largest exhibition in the world and I can believe it with 138,000 people attending the 4 days of the fair.  I can't begin to describe just how massive this exhibition was.  The event happened at a complex called the Messe which is a complex of 18 halls where each hall is about the size of Wembley Stadium!

We were exhibiting in the UK pavilion on the Medilink Yorkshire and Humber stand.  And similar to when I went to Japan earlier this year, there was a great camaraderie between all of the UK exhibitors.  We all worked very hard during the day and then played hard in the evening.  Most of the week I kept my camera packed away but last night, on our last night in Düsseldorf it came out for first the Düsseldorf Christmas market and then for our final meal with the rest of the stand.

First then, here are a few shots from the market.  It was the first time I've been to a German Christmas Market and it was lovely all lit up with yellow fairy lights.  Very chocolate box but also very crowded so I didn't get much of a chance to capture the market as a whole.  Instead I fired off a few close-up detail shots instead.







After the Christmas market I went with my colleague Sam to an Irish pub to watch some football.  I was amazed that although Düsseldorf is a small city it has three Irish pubs.  Was very strange watching some Premier League football with a whole load of Irish and German people in an Irish bar in Germany.  After that we met up with the rest of the UK delegation, had a wonderful Spanish meal and a couple of drinks:

































The bar we were in was full of people from Medica and these three people from Rochester Medical were there and they asked me to take a photo of the them so here it is:



This is David from Medilink.  Yesterday was his last day working for Medilink as he is off to live and work in Australia from Tuesday.  Lucky man!



And finally, a bit of man on man action.  It was that kind of night and that kind of week really!



So a great week was had by all but I am ready for a serious rest.  Shame it's back to work tomorrow though....