WE GREET FROM HAMBURG

August 13th, 2012 Monday

WE GREET FROM HAMBURG!!!

Holy sheit mann Hamburg home of the whooper was like disneyland for me but with out the facist founder. It's really hard to describe Hamburg cuz its a super complex city with a ton of lil districts in the city but if i had to compare it to any place i would say it's like L.A. but way better! "kind of".

go big! go Hamburg!

on on our way into city, we met a real cool young man who was on a track bike and full spandex. It was pretty Rad cuz we spoke the international languge of gear ratios, he was then nice enough to tell us about a shop in town that could help us solve our bike problems. So with a hand shake, smile, and a point to our map we were off to go find this "fixie shop".

Soo as we where riding throught city taking in all the sights and sunshine we came across, like a millilon bike shops non of which had what we needed and the one that did was closed, even tho the sign said it was supposed to be open. We where about to call it a day when a kid on a conversion bike was rolling by so we flagged him down and asked him if he know where this magical shop "suicycle" was at. He was like "ja I am on my way, I take you" so once aging our chaos powers prevailed and this strapping young man came through!

OH SUICYCLE HOW I LOVE THEE! So after all that we finally found what we where looking for! we got the chain ring bolts with some to spare and "Alex" one of the owners of the shop was kind enough to help us fix Hanako's back wheel "the axle and cones where slightly off"

Hanako, Alex (Suicycle), Alex (XRAY)

So after all that we finally got our bikes in tip top shape! we talked to Alex "not me but the owner of the shop" and he convinced us to stay in the town for a night instead of heading to the campingphlatz outside of the city. So we decied to check into hostle not too far away that  he recomended , he also told us about a show to check out later that night! So we checked into our home for the night and met a new friend Luca-from Switzerland- who had gotten there a night prior. And so we were off for a night of adventure!

On the docks

Saint pauli the district we where staying in was like WET DREAM for me! It basically looked like all the counter cultuer in gemany moved into this lil district in Germany. The atmosphere is unexplainable, and the people where super chill. we went to go eat some real Germany food "whatever" that means. It was delicious so after that we went cruise the red light district in Hamburg which is the largest in Eroupe "next to amsterdam of course". After that we headed to the show on the harbor!
Had some beers on the dock and then rolled up to the spot where the show was at, and to my surprise there where a bunch of punk kids outside with some other kidz sk8ing on some ramps and a rail. When we rolled up there was a big sign over the door that said somthing in German and our Swiss friend told us that it said SOLDOUT. So when the bouncer walked inside I grabed Hanako and Luca and made a dash for the door. I thought the music coming from inside sounded familiar, and it was- Municipal Waste, a band from the states, was f-ing it up (their words). I gave my fanny pack and glasses to Hanako and jumped into the pit, where I rocked harder than any German in there. We caught the last 4 or 5 songs, which was just enough to get me sore and mess up my shoes. I thought we were going to some fancy club DJ so I wore my white vans. At least I'll remember Hamburg forever.

Left my heart and cleanliness in Hamburg

We headed outside for a break before the next show, and the kids were still skating. with all the people out of the club, they definitely stepped it up a notch. It was rad- great combinations of new and old tricks, even stuff ive never seen people do live. There was a mini skate park set up on the sidewalk right in front of the richy and fancy places right next to the grimey club. Our new friend Alex came through soon after, and we met the kids (also a part of Suicycle) who brought in the ramps and rail to skate out there. Even suicycle Alex was amazed that the cops didn't come. We were super amazed, especially after all that ruckus.
When the ramps were packed up, we headed up much later to catch the end of Trash Talk, a Bay Area band that we hadn't heard before. Turns out the drummer, Sam, is from LA, and a good friend of our most favorite JAZZY BOIIIII! Sam told us he was exhausted, that free late night show being the 2nd that they played that day. Being a hardcore drummer ain't easy, so I felt for the guy. He had enough time to talk to us for a bit before they headed out to Amsterdam for their next show. After the band was done playing there were some bad-ass punk DJ's who knew the way to my heart with some gg allin, D.I., Adolecents, and even some Voids. There was also a group ping-pong game where there are several people with paddles moving around the table- everyone has to hit it once, and if you mess up, youre out, until it gets down to the last two people who play a match, then it starts all over again.
We went back down stairs, kicked it with Alex and his crew, got handed several beers, and chilled into the wee hours. In retrospect, St. Pauli is probably my favorite place on earth.

***Post script: When I get to the states, I'm gonna have to get suicycle send me a frame, cuz their bike ish is bad-ass!