all you need is LOVE: Love Parade, San Francisco Style 2005

Several years ago, when I was in Berlin taking my classes in architecture and political science, I re-discovered the hidden gems of H&M, Benetton - European-style, KaDeWe, Sanssouci, French Galeries Lafayette, Nikolaiviertel, and Hackescher Markt. Not to mention, gyros as only the Turks can make them, gelato, bratwurst, Europa Center, Potsdamer Platz, the top of the Brandenburg Gate, the British Embassy, and of course, the stupendous bread. Hm. I just listed a lot of stores and food.

Nevertheless, that trip to Europe holds a lot of fond memories, such as bears, the Tour de France, six-course meals in Prague, the easyInternetcafes, R-rated museums not found in the U.S., but above all, the Love Parade. What other city in the world allows its main boulevard to be shut down for a week to let hoards of people dressed in questionable fur leg warmers, jewel-studded bikinis, teased-up hairdos, and not much else, ride on floats thudding with the latest in techno and house music?? Which other parade has its participants stripping, dancing, and climbing streetlights? Only the Berlin Love Parade, where for the afternoon, only love, music, condoms, and outrageous costumes matter.

It is one of my favorite memories of unique Berlin. But an email landed in my inbox yesterday promoting the Love Parade in San Francisco this year on September 24th. Love Parade? San Francisco? They already have their distinguished Gay Pride Parade! Let Tel-Aviv try to imitate the Love Parade...but really, for a city which has already so many notable attractions, cramming one more in just makes it seem...ordinary.

I still like San Francisco for their jam though. Yum.