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Two young adults explore Berlin. Looking for one-nightstands, while absorbing a new culture, and enjoying the Love Parade.
Graffiti walls, wet and dirty floors, the flickering fluorescent bulbs cast ghostly shadows ahead of us. Berlin’s underpass is quiet. We go under instead of across Otto-braun Street tonight. It’s 11pm, my friend and I walk quickly but confidently through the underground tunnel: turn right, down a set of stairs to a resting escalator. It springs to life once we step onto the first step, comforting us with its electrical hum and breaking the uneasy silence of the vacant passage. Territorial natives’ shit and piss welcomes us at the bend as we step off the escalator. We pass the stench and race up the stairs leading to street level.
We are going out tonight, twenty-four year old American males; single and exploring Europe for a month. Berlin is our first stop. And it’s a night before Love Parade – one of the world’s largest electronic-music parties. Coming out from the underpass we make our way to Alexanderplatz. Couples and elders are out speckled around the plaza. We pass the World Clock, cross the tracks and the fountain where a group of young gypsies play music by tents they have pitched for the night. A line of people waiting to be served inside the brightly lit McDonald’s, skateboarders roll and jump off ramps of the plaza. We pass the fountain and enter a dim alleyway, making our way aimlessly through turns and dark stretches.
We walk for about ten minutes on unknown streets – we left our map at the hotel – and end up, almost magically, at the Spree River. We gaze into Berlin’s night, leaning against the railing that borders the river; a few apartments are lit, the large windows emit a soft yellow glow that warmly embraces its Bauhaus skeleton. The burning globe of the Fernsehturm, our landmark back to the hotel, is seen from where we are — it's almost impossible to get lost; the TV tower can be seen soaring over anywhere in the center of the city. We’ve been drinking since one, took a nap late afternoon and woke up thirty minutes ago. Our bodies are shaky but our spirit is needy.
We need a drink. We scan the area.
Berliner Dome is in our view, the empyreal structure flutters through night's obscurity; lights shone on the edifice cascade shades of the cathedral’s unwavering reverence: the domes illume its history, pride and renovation. The river is slow and the reflections of the stars melt into the fluid darkness. As the wind whirls by we hear with it the faint sounds coming from a terrace only a few yards from us. There are club ropes in front of the door but no bouncer. We decide to go in.
“Shout, I wanna hear you, shout!” rings once we enter. Piles of arms and heads sway and bob with the music. Swiveling girls in high skirts and platforms stop us on our tracks as they cut between us. We look at each other quickly as our eyes are lured back to the passing undulating hips entering a forest of dancing denim and leather.
We spot the bar and head towards it. There are a few people at the bar and a group of three girls behind us.
“Two shots of Jagger and two beers, please,” I yell out to the bartender.
We tip him and take our shots. We order another round. Shoot them and drink our beers at a table next to the group of girls. They have dark features, possibly Indian.
“They have to be Indian.” I tell my friend.
We think of an approach to speak with them. “We can ask them where they are from.” I say.
“But that’s too blah,” my friends says.
“Look where we are. In the middle of Berlin and they’re playing 50’s music! C'mon, they have to be foreigners, what local would come here?”
Logic struck and simplicity worked. We asked them. They were Indian from England. Stewardesses from Easy Jet airlines. They had a layover.
After a few drinks the five of us started dancing. We didn’t have a claim on any of them because it seemed like it was a joint venture — we all spoke to one another, cluster flirting. The one I danced with the most was the one I noticed first before sitting down. Long, dark, silky black hair running pass her shoulders, curvy with elegant yet substantial features.
I didn’t know how much fun I can have dancing, actually dancing to Oldie music. I felt like I was in a cheesy cruise but that didn’t stop me from enjoying my moment. But it ended abruptly. One girl looked at her watch and went frantic.
“We have to go. Look at the time? Oh my god, it's soo late.”
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When I was in germany I went for a 1 year... wish It was for a month. I wouldn't have gotten in so much trouble. Bless you europe.