Pee on the Berlin Wall • Las Vegas, Nevada

Communist East Germany began building the Berlin Wall August 13, 1961, in an attempt to stop its citizens from fleeing to the West. Between 700 and 800 people died attempting to cross border between East and West Germany. Most were shot or died in the barriers. The 95 mile "anti-fascist protection rampart" stood for 28 years. When the infamous wall fell on November 9, 1989, Berlin's streets were filled with celebration and a lot of souvenir seekers. Less than a year later East and West Germany were reunited.

Berlin Wall pieces landed in museums and memorials across America. I think Main Street Station's "memorial" is the most unique display of this artifact. One side of the men's room adjacent to Garden Court Buffet is faced with a large slab of the Berlin wall. However this is no mere art-fart museum display: it is practical decor and comes complete with a row of functional urinals mounted on it! After hours of gambling and beer drinking you can piss away your bad luck on the Berlin Wall. An apt political statement, loser mojo remover and kickin' modern art.

Shooting in bathrooms

I was apprehensive about photographing the wall. You can't help but feel a little pervy while wielding a large SLR in a men's room full of drunken rednecks, moks and assorted crackpots. I waited for a lull in the tinkle traffic and hammered a dozen shots and fled, but not without getting some strange looks.
Incidentally, the women's room didn't get a Berlin Wall. Not sure why, but perhaps because it's too messy for women to water the wall and, thus, the political satire lost? So ladies this may be your only chance at a peek. Savor it.

Main Street Station