A Mini Jaunt…Berlin.

My last full day here until July has got off to an interesting start…on the U-Bahn and guards decided to cop as many ticketless tourists as possible between Unter den Linden & Alexanderplatz There was a distinct kerfuffle in the carriage as the guards took no prisoners,or maybe they did as a few were escorted off the train to be further questioned on the platform.Luckily I had just updated mine on the platform whilst pondering the implications of eating a chicken AND egg sarnie…

Plenty of Polizei stationed around the platz no doubt in readiness of the festivities later on.May Day has a bit of a reputation for running battles between Polizei & protesters although maybe not at 11am.I counted at least a dozen vans parked up all with their blue & white lights flashing,which seems to be an unnecessary show of bravado/intimidation…

Didn’t see any evidence of any Hexenacht celebrations last night.I suppose when every second person in Berlin is a goth it’s difficult to work out who is cosplaying…

It looks like the whole world and his wife descends on Kreuzberg on May Day.The Polizei have blocked off Wiener Straße ( so my bus definitely isn’t allowed) not sure any of my bars are going to be open as I’m at the other end at the moment.Yet to have a drink…I’m guessing many are heading down to the park down the end.There’s a distinct smell of barbecue & skunk in the air…at least the U-Bahn is still running at the moment.All seems peaceful so far but most of us have been in enough large crowds to know how quickly that can change…having just wrote that a fleet of 12 Polizei vans with lights & sirens have gone past…

Good news,Bar 11 is open and not too rammed.They’re doing a nice side hustle of Pimms like drinks for under €5 in plastic glasses so most are buying then walking them to the park.Good strategy…apart from the staff and the ladies queuing for the bogs I’m the only punter inside.I have been outside enough today so I’m happy and they are playing The Rev Al Green so alles gut…only just noticed they’re charging €1 for use of the bogs.I presume there’s a lot of people coming in who’re just strolling past and need to pee.Don’t know yet if that applies to me as I’m a regular,insomuch as Hally’s Comet is a regular visitor,with my child like bladder it could prove an expensive sesh…didn’t get charged when I went.I’m a fucking local!

A fella just walked in with a “Hackney Tiger” shirt on.I had to ask and sure enough he lives not far from me.His missus dragged him away before it became a nostalgia drinking fest…

Ok last thought on today’s May Day shindig.I would estimate Kreuzberg has had maybe a million,probably more,people come in to the area today to party.Young,willing to spend a shit load on beer & drugs and without a doubt will carry on till the last man drops sometime tomorrow.The local economy will no doubt benefit greatly.Not sure the message of solidarity for the global working class is forefront on anyone’s mind but hey ho.It’s a far cry from when we trudged two miles behind a TGWU banner in the pouring rain followed by a few pints of warm mild in a smoky old pub and I’m tempted to say we put in the hard shift to facilitate these shenanigans but in truth that’s just jealousy that I’m an old twat watching young people have a great crack and it is Berlin and if any city has paid their dues over the years it’s this one…oh and if you get upset by copious amounts of flesh on show from every conceivable gender then this event and this city ain’t for you…

Soon I will feel the need for Currywurst mit Pommes and as I have a potentially mad trip to Paris tomorrow I’ll post this now…