A night out on the Pfand, or how I became a Catalonian Rat
My friend is from Catalonia, and she had explained to me previously that the Spanish call the Catalonians ‘rats’ as there is the stereotype that they hoard their money, and are always looking for ways to save money. Anyway, as was discussed briefly in another post the Germans love the Pfand (deposit when you buy certain bottles), so last Friday night a few of us went to check out the university start of semester party. I won’t say I didn’t have reservations as the memory of one J.L. starting a fight with a female bouncer and subsequently being escorted from the last university party I went to is still fresh in my mind. It started at 10 and while we were there about half past others in our group decided we were too cool to go into the party then so we went round the corner to another pub for a drink. When we returned at midnight there was a queue consisting of a few hundred people. We waited an hour. Upon the 4 euro entry, my fears were confirmed, this was worse than the Melbourne Uni party, downstairs they were playing top 40, but not the tacky fun stuff just shit, and people had whistles! Upstairs was billed as indy-alternative but seemed more try-hard goth. We had waited an hour and payed the equivalent of $7 so I was gonna stay anyway, and I headed to the beer table. The Pfand was 20c and already I saw a few thrifty people bringing back more bottles than they bought. After a few more beers myself and some energetic dancing (It’s Raining Men! (Weather Girls not Geri!!)) only slightly marred by a nasty habit of the DJ in turning down the music at crucial moments during the song so everyone can drunkenly yell out the words, I started collecting handfuls of bottles on my way back to the bar. And then I discovered that the mixed drinks had a 50c Pfand. My friend Paula and I ended up having a completely free night out, I’m sure it is very non de rigeur (sp?) and people were laughing at us (especially the bar staff) but at least we were making money, and who the fuck were they still at a scheiße uni party at 4am? The next day we were rich but very ashamed, and I am an honorary Catalonian.
My friend is from Catalonia, and she had explained to me previously that the Spanish call the Catalonians ‘rats’ as there is the stereotype that they hoard their money, and are always looking for ways to save money. Anyway, as was discussed briefly in another post the Germans love the Pfand (deposit when you buy certain bottles), so last Friday night a few of us went to check out the university start of semester party. I won’t say I didn’t have reservations as the memory of one J.L. starting a fight with a female bouncer and subsequently being escorted from the last university party I went to is still fresh in my mind. It started at 10 and while we were there about half past others in our group decided we were too cool to go into the party then so we went round the corner to another pub for a drink. When we returned at midnight there was a queue consisting of a few hundred people. We waited an hour. Upon the 4 euro entry, my fears were confirmed, this was worse than the Melbourne Uni party, downstairs they were playing top 40, but not the tacky fun stuff just shit, and people had whistles! Upstairs was billed as indy-alternative but seemed more try-hard goth. We had waited an hour and payed the equivalent of $7 so I was gonna stay anyway, and I headed to the beer table. The Pfand was 20c and already I saw a few thrifty people bringing back more bottles than they bought. After a few more beers myself and some energetic dancing (It’s Raining Men! (Weather Girls not Geri!!)) only slightly marred by a nasty habit of the DJ in turning down the music at crucial moments during the song so everyone can drunkenly yell out the words, I started collecting handfuls of bottles on my way back to the bar. And then I discovered that the mixed drinks had a 50c Pfand. My friend Paula and I ended up having a completely free night out, I’m sure it is very non de rigeur (sp?) and people were laughing at us (especially the bar staff) but at least we were making money, and who the fuck were they still at a scheiße uni party at 4am? The next day we were rich but very ashamed, and I am an honorary Catalonian.
posted by Amy at 11:14 PM
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