May 1st

Berlin loves May 1st.

As Labour Day, the old GDR used it as an opportunity to put on the big parades, and celebrate the victory of Socialism.

Well, after singing Chaka Khan's 'Ain't nobody' at choir yesterday, a few of us went to the street party around the corner - the traditional MeiFest (now renamed MyFest to keep up with the 21st century).

After wondering past the various music stands (one changing from Fat Boy Slim's 'Praise You' to some kind of punk/brass mix with 10 German Turks playing their instruments as if on speed), we saw the HUGE numbers of police.

Shipped in from all over the country, they stood in position, like a Roman army. It looked extremely aggressive. In full riot gear, with (what looked like teargas, but turned out to be fire extinguisher) on their backs, batons, helmets - the lot.

No wonder there was trouble.

By standing there in such large numbers, they were practically inviting confrontation.

My friends and I approached one of them and put this to him. What followed was a 30 minute conversation about the nature of policing, and ended with him sharing some of his gum - and countless others walking up to other police and asking questions. It looked like some sort of hustings at one point!