Robyn BoxBerlin - Part 2: The Love Parade
December 16th 2006 09:46
The Love Parade
Well well well, the infamous Berlin Love Parade. The Love Parade came about after the fall of the Berlin Wall. It used to be a formal protest for the transforming spirit of the New Europe and the need for a new world order. Since a couple of years ago the government has declared the parade officially “not a protest”. Despite this, I was still doing my bit to advance the need for peace and international diplomacy, flashing peace signs around everywhere. The centre of the parade takes place around the Siegessaule or Victory Column which is located around the Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor), near the Tiergarten park. The locals complain that it is too touristy and it just isn’t “groovy” anymore.
To begin with –yes, the Love Parade is full of tourists, that is what is so great about it. It also has lots of locals, the young and old, from home and abroad, the hip, the square, the groovy, the scary – it is hard not to feel welcome. The love parade is an outdoor “rave” if you can call it that - a social hub for all the different cultures and sub cultures from all around the world, gathering together to get loaded up on pills and dance around for 9 hours (it ends up being around 14 hours if you include the dance party at the clubs afterwards). We had a great time, though I challenge anyone to try and survive the entire festival without some chemical substances. Expecting to survive the day without any chemical or alcoholic helpers and not crash, Claire and Caz decided it would be a good idea to load up on red bulls instead; - Not a good idea. Besides sore legs and the intense peeks and lows, the Love Parade was truly phenomenal. I have never experienced anything like it in my life. There are 60 different floats blaring trance and techno music, happy hardcore, metal, rock, death metal (you’d be hard pressed not to find something you liked) it felt as though we were riding on clouds… Tired and dehydrated Caz and I headed back to shower and change before going out to the clubs which open as soon as the parade ends. Everybody legs it from the parade and cram themselves into these overcrowded clubs and dance until dawn. In typical fashion, we never made it out (8 or 10 red bulls too many will do that to a gal!).
[BAnother totally randomly meaningful travel moment:[/B]
I met an American artist on my first night, he drew me a picture on the back of a business card. We had a truly inspiring conversation in a dark corner of an East Berlin club; you should have heard this conversation, we/he said things so profound I wish I had a Dictaphone... He told me to keep it and in ten years time he is going to contact with me when it is time, and he will ask for the piece back. There is a number at the bottom of the card and every person that returns the card will be invited to his gallery exhibit of scrawled on business cards and everyone that he has been moved by, or had a meaningful experience with will all be in the same place at the one time - a reunion for strangers. (If you would like to see more of his work, go to www.dougolsen.com). I wish I had spent just one more day with this guy. I will always regret not getting on that train.
I put my foot on the wall! Well at least where the wall used to be. It is very strange seeing a 'pimped up city' of shining buildings; Gucci and Prada stores line the streets, covering the ground where so much history has occurred. Besides the tourist kitsch (“own a piece of the wall”) Berlin has gone to lengths to conceal its violent past... there is very little physical evidence that surrounds Berlin city now that would even suggest the extent of its complex past....
Our last night in Berlin got hella crazy! I have hazy drunken memories of a prolonged happy hour spent with our new Canadian friends and some STRANGE South Africans, one of which was a conservative Christian who said homosexuality is an abomination... Well I whipped out my West Wing reference from series one (see bottom of the page for full quote). I proceeded to ask him whether his god loves him, and whether he/she is forgiving and all knowing... and surely he/she made us all different for a reason... After a long and deeply meaningful conversation we jointly concurred that god (should he exist – for the purposes of that conversation he did) is love and that he should love all people. It was a surprising and stunning conclusion to our conversation and a moral victory for me. I spoke to a republican turn democrat about Michael Moore and Bush and life in New Orleans (his home town). I Irish danced on the tables... it was a crazy night. I will attach some photos as examples of just how crazy and stupid we tourists really are.
Oh and here is that quote (you go President Bartlet! I wish he was real *cry*)
“I wanted to ask you a couple of questions while I have you here. I'm interested in selling my youngest daughter into slavery as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. She's a Georgetown sophomore, speaks fluent Italian, always cleared the table when it was her turn. What would a good price for her be? While thinking about that, can I ask another? My Chief of Staff Leo McGarry insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly says he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself or is it okay to call the police? Here's one that's really important because we've got a lot of sports fans in this town: touching the skin of a dead pig makes one unclean. Leviticus 11:7. If they promise to wear gloves, can the Washington Redskins still play football? Can Notre Dame? Can West Point? Does the whole town really have to be together to stone my brother John for planting different crops side by side? Can I burn my mother in a small family gathering for wearing garments made from two different threads? Think about those questions, would you? One last thing: while you may be mistaking this for your monthly meeting of the Ignorant Tight-Ass Club, in this building, when the President stands, nobody sits.”
(I got the transcript of this speech from Nycole posting on <http://experts.about.com/q/West-Wing-2554/biblical-quotations-President.htm>
.
Well well well, the infamous Berlin Love Parade. The Love Parade came about after the fall of the Berlin Wall. It used to be a formal protest for the transforming spirit of the New Europe and the need for a new world order. Since a couple of years ago the government has declared the parade officially “not a protest”. Despite this, I was still doing my bit to advance the need for peace and international diplomacy, flashing peace signs around everywhere. The centre of the parade takes place around the Siegessaule or Victory Column which is located around the Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor), near the Tiergarten park. The locals complain that it is too touristy and it just isn’t “groovy” anymore.
the Siegessaule - pre parade
the Siegessaule - During the Love Parade
To begin with –yes, the Love Parade is full of tourists, that is what is so great about it. It also has lots of locals, the young and old, from home and abroad, the hip, the square, the groovy, the scary – it is hard not to feel welcome. The love parade is an outdoor “rave” if you can call it that - a social hub for all the different cultures and sub cultures from all around the world, gathering together to get loaded up on pills and dance around for 9 hours (it ends up being around 14 hours if you include the dance party at the clubs afterwards). We had a great time, though I challenge anyone to try and survive the entire festival without some chemical substances. Expecting to survive the day without any chemical or alcoholic helpers and not crash, Claire and Caz decided it would be a good idea to load up on red bulls instead; - Not a good idea. Besides sore legs and the intense peeks and lows, the Love Parade was truly phenomenal. I have never experienced anything like it in my life. There are 60 different floats blaring trance and techno music, happy hardcore, metal, rock, death metal (you’d be hard pressed not to find something you liked) it felt as though we were riding on clouds… Tired and dehydrated Caz and I headed back to shower and change before going out to the clubs which open as soon as the parade ends. Everybody legs it from the parade and cram themselves into these overcrowded clubs and dance until dawn. In typical fashion, we never made it out (8 or 10 red bulls too many will do that to a gal!).
The many creatures that ventured to the parade - in this case, the Irish
A groovy fellow
See what I mean about social hub! And that isn't a plastic mask, that thing is bolted to his head!
One of the many floats travelling up and town the parade
The Love Parade Banner
The Love Parade
Caz and a sailor: he's not really a sailor, just pretend silly! Tee hee!
[BAnother totally randomly meaningful travel moment:[/B]
I met an American artist on my first night, he drew me a picture on the back of a business card. We had a truly inspiring conversation in a dark corner of an East Berlin club; you should have heard this conversation, we/he said things so profound I wish I had a Dictaphone... He told me to keep it and in ten years time he is going to contact with me when it is time, and he will ask for the piece back. There is a number at the bottom of the card and every person that returns the card will be invited to his gallery exhibit of scrawled on business cards and everyone that he has been moved by, or had a meaningful experience with will all be in the same place at the one time - a reunion for strangers. (If you would like to see more of his work, go to www.dougolsen.com). I wish I had spent just one more day with this guy. I will always regret not getting on that train.
I put my foot on the wall! Well at least where the wall used to be. It is very strange seeing a 'pimped up city' of shining buildings; Gucci and Prada stores line the streets, covering the ground where so much history has occurred. Besides the tourist kitsch (“own a piece of the wall”) Berlin has gone to lengths to conceal its violent past... there is very little physical evidence that surrounds Berlin city now that would even suggest the extent of its complex past....
Our last night in Berlin got hella crazy! I have hazy drunken memories of a prolonged happy hour spent with our new Canadian friends and some STRANGE South Africans, one of which was a conservative Christian who said homosexuality is an abomination... Well I whipped out my West Wing reference from series one (see bottom of the page for full quote). I proceeded to ask him whether his god loves him, and whether he/she is forgiving and all knowing... and surely he/she made us all different for a reason... After a long and deeply meaningful conversation we jointly concurred that god (should he exist – for the purposes of that conversation he did) is love and that he should love all people. It was a surprising and stunning conclusion to our conversation and a moral victory for me. I spoke to a republican turn democrat about Michael Moore and Bush and life in New Orleans (his home town). I Irish danced on the tables... it was a crazy night. I will attach some photos as examples of just how crazy and stupid we tourists really are.
Fun at the A&O hostel Freidrichshain
The canadians
Me and Canadian Andrew - best example to how you can meet your closest friends travelling
I don't know what is going on here. I think he just lifted me off the table post irish dance
Oh and here is that quote (you go President Bartlet! I wish he was real *cry*)
“I wanted to ask you a couple of questions while I have you here. I'm interested in selling my youngest daughter into slavery as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. She's a Georgetown sophomore, speaks fluent Italian, always cleared the table when it was her turn. What would a good price for her be? While thinking about that, can I ask another? My Chief of Staff Leo McGarry insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly says he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself or is it okay to call the police? Here's one that's really important because we've got a lot of sports fans in this town: touching the skin of a dead pig makes one unclean. Leviticus 11:7. If they promise to wear gloves, can the Washington Redskins still play football? Can Notre Dame? Can West Point? Does the whole town really have to be together to stone my brother John for planting different crops side by side? Can I burn my mother in a small family gathering for wearing garments made from two different threads? Think about those questions, would you? One last thing: while you may be mistaking this for your monthly meeting of the Ignorant Tight-Ass Club, in this building, when the President stands, nobody sits.”
(I got the transcript of this speech from Nycole posting on <http://experts.about.com/q/West-Wing-2554/biblical-quotations-President.htm>
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