MELINA MÖRSDORF

„What am I supposted to do at home? Here I have everything I need," says Helga Halbeck, whom everyone just calls Helga. The recreation room, which is part of the public restroom on Große Elbstrasse, is something like her living room. Here she chats with customers, cooks herself a goulash or sits together with friends. On the little table at the entrance there are flowers and a bowl with sweets for children. The city sanitation department likes to come by, and every once in a while she bakes a cake for some of the convoys. Helga's restroom is quite lively, and she has a witty quip and a hearty laugh ready for every guest.

Helga Halbeck danced, cooked and ran the bars in the nightclubs of St. Pauli. She has long since retired. But without work, her days are getting too long. So she looks after the Fischmarkt - as a good soul and caretaker of the public restroom.