Please you are advised NOT to try getting into this club if you do not have a European passport, that's specifically what the door man said to me. On Saturday 28th February 2015 I went to Molly Malones, (it's supposed to be an Irish pub) in downtown Helsinki, it was about 3.00 in the morning but I couldn't be let in, the interaction with the doorman went something like this:-
Me: Terve (this is Finnish for Hello)
Doorman (mumbling into his chest): Terve
I attempt to go round him
Doorman (Another mumble into chest): I'DD (as in ID, emphasizing the d)
I rummage through my many layers of clothing (this is Helsinki, its cold) and give him my passport. He squints at it in the half-light, looks up with the expression of one who hasn't deciphered anything of what he was just reading and hands it back. We move out of the way as a large group of teeny boppers, boisterous boyfriends in tow pass into the club. No IDs asked, none given.
Me: So
Doorman (Casting around as if for something lost in the fog of his mind, looks at his shoes, looks at the ground): Grunt, snort, grumble, oink, mumble
A look across the street, then a look to his left, then finally at me and it's of the old - Oh you are still here - kind.
So I gather my credentials need a bit of bolstering, and this border patrol man needs more reassurances. More rummaging through layers and finally I whip out my residence visa card, medical cards, credit cards, bank cards, and my mother's birth certificate, and he gives them all a cursory but dismissive glance.
Me: What now?
Doorman (looking slightly pleased with himself): Passport.
Me: But I showed you my passport
Doorman (very pleased with himself): European passport
Me (Incredulous): Really, since when?
Doorman (smugly and with a flourish): Sorry bra(he actually called me that), club policy.
Methinks I would be stretching it a bit to roam around with two passports even if I had them, right? But I got the message so I walked away. Now, am an African and I don't want to jump to obvious conclusions here so I won't, and also there is the slim chance that it actually is management, owner or club policy and this guy was just doing his job (very happily at that), but still I just couldn't help wondering, Helsinki, progressive, year 2015, really?
Not to mention I've been to this club before, admittedly it was a weekday and the doorman didn't even bother to ask for a European passport or any ID for that matter, let alone stop me from entering. But then again since it was a weekday and the club appeared low on attendance, then my No-European-Passport money was good then, but this time it was full house and my money was no good. Huh!
However, no bother, there are many bars in Helsinki, I had my drink finally at Club Zetor, where a nice gentleman at the door ushered me in, and he even spoke a few words in my language unbidden to make me feel welcome. Well, what do you know! Thanks man, much appreciated. read more