Flak tower 9/19

Friday I started the day on a mission. I use a razor that takes a non-proprietary double-sided blade. You’re not supposed to fly with those in your carry-on, and I don’t check a bag. So I used ChatGPT to find a store with them, just a couple train stops away.

Since I had a train ticket, I decided today was Flak tower day. During WW2, the Nazis built fortified towers and placed anti-aircraft guns on them. They were made of such sturdy concrete that most haven’t been demolished. Flakturm Humboldthain is supposed to be a pretty cool one, so I figured I’d better check it out.

I used the crowded subway to get there. On the U-Bahn, I saw something that bothered me: a large fellow walked between the aisles, shaking a cup of coins, begging for money. When no one offered him anything, he spit on the floor twice before walking to the next car. Not my country, but I wanted to put this motherfucker’s face on the floor in his own spit. It’s fine to beg. Disrespecting the people you’re begging from is not fine. Fuck that guy.

After the train, I started hunting for the tower. I was struggling a little with Google Maps, then I spotted the damn thing on the hillside. Someone had even put a handy arrow-shaped sign in front of me that read “Flakturm.” I had a bunch of stairs to climb, but being the reasonably fit fellow I am, I made short work of them.

After the Flakturm, I felt some anxiety. The crowded U-Bahn wasn’t calming. I returned to my room and grabbed a bottle of Berliner Pilsner. I took it for a walk. Soon I found myself on a park bench near a walking trail. I reckoned it was where the Wall used to be. However, ChatGPT told me I was deep into East Berlin, not near the Wall. So, I started walking west.

I stepped into a Späti and checked out the beer fridge. I spotted a porter. That’s a style of English origin, and I’d never seen a German one. I thought maybe it was a Baltic porter — the 8% ABV version brewed up by the Baltic Sea. But this one was only 4.2%: Bergquell Brauerei Löbau Porter. It was malt-forward and sweet. Very little dark malt character — I suspect brewed with Weyermann Sinamar extract. It had bread, toffee, and hazelnut notes.

I found the Berlin Wall Trail and followed it north. Soon I was next to a BrewDog pub. BrewDog is a large Scottish craft brewery. I went in, looked over the list, and ordered a stout. It was a 4% ABV beer with notes of chocolate, coffee, toffee, and toasted oats. Apparently not an oatmeal stout.

A lady named Tiana came on shift while I was there. She was a cute Black girl with amazing hair and a thick butt. We talked about hair and American accents. She was from Ohio.

After my pint, I decided to get back closer to my part of town. I wanted dinner, but apparently hadn’t walked as far as I thought — because soon I was back at Protokoll’s bar top. The cute lady and the Russian fellow from my first night were there. I learned the Russian guy is from Latvia, born there when it was still part of the USSR.

I left and headed to Balakiss for a Döner. After that Döner dinner, I figured I’d better check out a bar I’d passed a few times: Rockcafé Halford. It had a picture of Rob Halford from Judas Priest on the sign.

I walked in and was pleasantly surprised! The bartenders were cute ladies dressed very sexy, damn near lingerie. The place had a Budweiser Budvar sign outside, and I was excited to drink it on draught. I was disappointed — tasted awful of diacetyl. I suspect poor tap maintenance. I probably should’ve just walked away, but I really liked looking at those hot ladies.