Dr.Pongs

Last night I went to a most unusual bar, a small and out of the way place at Ebeswalder Strasse, called Dr.Pongs, which is infact a ping pong bar. It was a little hard to find, a very non descript building except for a large poster featuring some cool people surrounding a table tennis table. I had planned to meet some couchsurfers there, so after waiting a while i was eventually greeted by some familiar faces of people i have met in previous meets in berlin.
Now Dr. Pongs works like this.. When you arrive you pay a 5 euro deposit at the bar for a bat, & when a new round begins anyone who wants to play joins a large circle around the table, you then each shuffle and get a hit of the ball when you reach an end of the table, If  you miss, then you are out of the circle, which, as the game progresses gets smaller, & faster, until there are 4 or 5 people left, then they have to run around the table in order to keep up. This keeps going until there are only two people left, at which time, it turns into a regular game with the winner being the first to 5 points. The winner then thumps on the table with their bat, signalling time for a new round to begin.
It was a hell of alot of fun, and although I am very bad at such games, I really enjoyed myself. Towards the end of the night everyone was getting drunk, & there was a dj playing some great tunes, & the whole atmosphere was electric. It is great how such games can bring a room of people together. Much more exciting than playing pool or Fussball because everyone is involved.
I will have to go back, but next time I will make sure I am wearing sweatbands & some groovy tennis gear, & although I sux, I will try my hardest to look the part. Someone should start one of these bars in Melbourne, because I am sure they will pull a decent crowd whenever these events are on, I for one, will certainly attend.