Does the ex-racing driver remember where he parked his Land Cruiser? An SZ editor found him: pretty far away, on another continent. Three anecdotes from around the world.
In the middle of… Johannesburg
Illustration: Marc Herold
This is a message for Ralf Schumacher aka little Schumi. Dear Ralf, your Land Cruiser is fine. It is now bumper to bumper in the Caravan Park in Johannesburg with our Toyota Hilux, which we want to drive on to Botswana at Easter. James takes meticulous care of your Land Cruiser. Once a month he starts the engine and drives it around the facility to keep the tires and transmission in good shape. When the protective film has crumbled back to dust in the South African sun, he buys a new one from the Sports Car Center (perhaps you should have rented a covered parking space). All in all, everything is fine, James says, if necessary he can also change the oil. And should you decide to visit Johannesburg again after two years, you know: always welcome. Tanya rest
In the middle of… Istanbul
Illustration: Marc Herold
On the way in Istanbul, where there are always more tourists than real Turks. Hagia Sophia, Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, the Magic Cistern, the unspeakable Prussian Kaiser Wilhelm Two Fountain. In dry words: tourist furor, pious crowds, global selfie terror. Suddenly the sky overcasts the six minarets of the Blue Mosque. A ballet of thousands upon thousands of storks, in perfect symmetry. Coincidence, nature, the divine choreography? The storks do their pirouettes over this second eternal city every year. Istanbul is the intercontinental hub for millions of migratory birds that move across continents between seasons. Storks in the sky promise people luck, say the people of Istanbul. You must know because they are real Turks. Tomas Avenarius
In the middle of… Hamburg
Illustration: Marc Herold
The White House has moved. Not the White House in Washington, although nothing can be ruled out there in the future. But the one in Hamburg, you almost didn’t notice it. For years, someone walked or cycled past the Outer Alster, saw the giant fir tree on the terrace during Christmas and the flag with the Stars and Stripes above the roof all year round. Now there is no longer a flag and only the US coat of arms on the pristine white facade, which will probably also be removed soon because the consulate has moved to a completely different building in Hafen City. Now the police will gradually be allowed to withdraw, and perhaps at some point the street on the banks of the Alster, which was closed to the Americans, will be reopened. If you’re looking for the White House in the meantime – off to Washington, DC! Peter Burghardt
You can find more episodes of the “In the middle of …” column here.