In the middle of… the Everglades
Illustration: Marc Herold
(Photo: /)
Alligator Alley is not called that for nothing, it crosses the Everglades in Florida as Interstate 75. This is a legendary wetland with animals of all kinds including numerous alligators. You stop at a service area on this soporifically straight route and stretch your legs. Surely there wouldn’t be a crocodile walking around? And then what is the really very first thing to see in this channel next to the parking lot? Exactly, a crocodile. Eyes and nostrils move in the water, the angler on the bank withdraws. Occasionally, a four-meter-long reptile is said to even comfortably cross the road, which leads to traffic jams, bite wounds are only occasionally reported. This alligator is swimming towards me, so I’d rather get back in the car, I don’t want to disturb you. Peter Burghardt
In the middle of … Stuttgart
Illustration: Marc Herold
New S-Bahn trains have recently been installed in Stuttgart. They are not red like the old ones, but white. But they don’t go down well with everyone. For example with the driver of the S2 to Schorndorf. He announces 26 minutes late. “The reason for this is a broken down S-Bahn. These are these wonderful white vehicles that we train drivers never wanted because they didn’t work, but got them anyway. And lo and behold: they don’t work.” Technical details follow. Complaints should be directed to the Stuttgart S-Bahn management or the Federal Railway Authority, “which allowed this heap of scrap metal.” Or to the manufacturer. end of the announcement. In the S-Bahn (a red one!), a young man says to his buddy: “Yes, man, let’s complain. To the engine driver?” The other: “No, let’s go, he’s desperate that he’s talking so much.” Veronica Wulf
In the middle of … Schäftlarn
Illustration: Marc Herold
An annoying day comes to an end, now I create a clichéd way of creating a relaxing atmosphere in the living room. A crackling open fire, a glass of red wine, the first bars of Keith Jarrett’s “Cologne Concert” erupt from the speakers. Jarrett took over the striking intro from the intermission gong at the Cologne Opera; for me it signals the beginning of a rest ritual. My dog enjoys the atmosphere and snuggles into his seat while I cook. But suddenly he starts to growl – and calms down again. This is repeated a few times until the otherwise docile Lab jumps up and barks angrily at the stereo. That’s when it struck me: the dog reacts to the moans and growls with which the pianist underscores his improvisations. Kind of right. Better not take him to a Jarrett concert. Titus Arno
You can find more episodes of the “In the middle of …” column here.