Sunday, October 2nd. Mila and me decided to go to Mauerpark, a location that is well-known for its flea market, the many tourists and Germans that go there every Sunday, the creative atmosphere, and the infamous Bear Pit Karaoke.
Yes, I have heard stories about this festive park but to be honest no words nor pictures could have covered the experience. We still had to walk for over ten minutes when we got out of the U-bahn (metro) at the Eberswalder Straβe but already we were accompanied by, maybe a hundred, cheerful people that were on the way to this famous park. It actually felt as if I was on my way to a festival! These people on the move were having a drink, most of them chatting in more than one language, and were very visibly looking forward to a nice day. At the entrance, the festival mood got increased at the moment we saw a (Dutch) band playing that was promoting its performance later that night in a bar. Although some of the people just walked by, a relative big crowd had formed around this group of musicians, either standing up or sitting down in the sun, relaxing and listening to the folk pop music they played.
After about ten minutes, we decided to walk on. And what we saw as such a spontaneous and high standard beginning of our Mauerpark experience, appeared only to be the top of the iceberg. On our way to the main grass fields, we passed by another band playing very lively Latin music, a one man band (he was playing the drums, accordion, and harmonica – and sang the guitar solos!), an Indian guru who seemed to be only fascinating himself while playing with a glass presse papier (paperweight), a field of basketball players et cetera. And literally everywhere, visitors were sitting or laying down, enjoying the sun while reading a book, having a picnic, playing guitar and singing, barbecuing, or just staring at the clouds. This might sound very stoner or hippie, but that is not quite the atmosphere I am trying to portray. I would say it was cozy, free and without a worry on anyone’s mind. Just a nice day at the park.
Later, when we were sitting down at the Bear Pit Karaoke (see pictures for the huge amount of people that was watching the brave and fearless singers together with us!) I was wondering why this park and t
he events around it were striking me as extraordinary. We have parks in the Netherlands, we organize events there.. A conversation with Mila, a walk over the flea market and some rather horrible karaoke performances later, I came to this semi conclusion.
In the Netherlands, whenever there is an event with such a big crowd involved, we have an organization, at least twelve permits, security, emergency plans, and an uncountable amount of rules. This would already take away a lot of the spontaneity that surrounds the activities at Mauerpark. To be honest, I don’t think anything is actually organized there. Yes, the merchants at the flea market have a stand, the front man of the Bear Pit Karaoke brought his speakers, microphone and laptop, and the guru most likely bought his own presse papier. However, there are no emergency steps that need to be kept free at the karaoke arena, no police walking around, and no barbeque was confiscated. And miraculously, the visitors, artists, and merchants just find their way in all this chaotic happiness, peacefully next to one another and even with each other.
The sun was shining, the Bambi sculptures calling and some heart shaped kites in the bright blue sky. Like I said, it was a nice day at the park. Nothing less but certainly nothing more.
PS. I am sorry for the awkward lay-out. This programme is killing me.
