In the evening of my very first day in Berlin my legs took me to the Tiergarten park – it looked like a looming big green space on the map in contrast to the busy city life all around me. I was slowly walking from the east to west, navigating the meandering pathways throughout the park and crossing many bridges over lakes and waterways.
Eventually I got to the clearing where there were gay man sunbathing, some couples & some singles. I coudn’t help but look, trying to not make it too obvious. Still I pressed on, there were not a lot of people here and it looked just like a normal sunbathing spot albeit with mainly man around, but nothing extra going on that I can see or sense.
I crossed Hofjägerallee, one of the main roads radiating from the Victory Column monument and walked west for a bit. I knew there is a gay cruising area somewhere here near the Bremer Weg lake but I didn’t need to check the map to realise where I was. For the trees grew thicker, the people around where all men, walking at a curiously different pace compared to everyone else in the park. Their steps were slow and measured, frequently turning the head to look around. At that moment I knew I’ve arrived and my heart went racing.
I cautiously followed the trail around the southern tip of the lake, stopping several times to look behind at a hunky man in a blue tee and a silver chain who I passed by earlier. I wasn’t looking for anything just yet but seeing him roaming looking for a hookup was just so incredibly hot. I didn’t know where to go but finding a way was really easy – just follow the man. I went around the bend of the lake, passing by two benches with older guys sitting there watching and went northward along the trail hugging the lake that lead to the rhododendron grove just starting to bloom. And there between the flowers were guys slowly walking up and down, cautiously making eye contact.
Once I got to a stump of the bridge that I later was told used to be the famed Lions’ Bridge there was a sexy daddy who I noticed earlier from the other side. He soon left but I replaced him on the platform, looking across the lake enjoying scenic view. Even if you don’t fancy sex it’s a great place to come and people watch in nature.
The trail continued onwards, plunging again in to the lush rhododendrons. This must have been one of the most picturesque gay cruising areas I’ve ever been to or heard of and it really sets the mood for the atmosphere here. There is a certain beauty to the freedom that casual encounters and anonymous sex brings, just like the beauty of nature that blooms and thrives here.
Bending around the curves of the lake, the path eventually rejoins with a main one where there are 4 benches in a groups of 2, with tall evergreen hedges conveniently right behind them, offering shelter for those who seek it. The benches overlook a little meadow by the lake. There were a few man sitting here, quietly checking out passers by. It was still early in the evening so the park was full of people, but you can tell who is simply getting on with their day and who has a bit of a wondering eye.
The path then leads across the bridge where any larger vehicle traffic is blocked by metal bollards but cyclist and pedestrians can pass through. I was keen to scout the area in the daytime to get a feeling of the place and what I may want to explore after the nightfall.
Just past the bridge one can step off the main path to continue around the lake. Here, deep in to the overgrowth it is a lot more darker and gloomier with more places to hide and retreat away from the lay life. The trees are taller and broader and with the lake just behind the main path is left but a distant memory. It looked like a place I would want to find myself in the dark. And with that I resolved to come back here at my earliest convenience and try my luck.
I didn’t know yet that the park had a lot more to offer and explore but that’s a tale for another time. Satisfied with my field report I left to find the nearest Biergärten to quench my thirst on this warm spring evening.
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