Scented candles as a souvenir: Darling, your nose hair! -Panorama

In the middle of…Portland

An invitation to new friends, a souvenir is expected. Scented candles are all the rage right now in Portland, and because the host once moved to Oregon from California, the choice falls on a candle that’s supposed to smell like “californian summer.” His wife is happy about the gift and immediately lights the candle. She takes the container, holds it under her husband’s nose and asks: “Well, does that smell like home?” It happened as it had to happen: the flame singed the hair on his nose and he jumped away with a loud “Ouch”. When everyone has made sure that nothing else happened to him, he gives the answer with a dose of gallows humor: somehow he only noticed the smell of burning. But yes, that actually reminds him of the Californian summer – and the forest fires there. Claudia Koestler

In the middle of … Isarwinkel

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The Brandner Kaspar used to poach, around the year 1860. But 2022? There are no more poachers! No fictitious ones like Brandner, and certainly no real ones. Yes, there are! Recently in the tavern in … well, that shouldn’t be revealed, because one didn’t wish that Brandner would be caught. Well, recently in a tavern somewhere in the Isarwinkel: people are drinking beer, red wine, schnapps, and at some point someone who should know says that “some families” in the area “of course still poach”. The others murmur: “There’s no such thing!” Or: “Det is Bayan!” A friend, the man continues, was recently caught with a gun. “He’s been shooting with a bow and arrow ever since.” The man pauses to increase the tension for the punchline and the respect for the crafty bro. “That’s quieter.” Gerhard Fischer

In the middle of… Bangkok

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In the moonlight on the Chao Phraya, Bangkok’s magnificent river. The light from the high-rise buildings is reflected in the water when an exclamation of astonishment rings out from the next table. “What is that?” In fact: someone is swimming through the river at night. Or something. Associations with a Scottish lake called Loch Ness arise from the wedge-shaped shadows that protrude from the water. The clarification follows the next day: One of the monsters is sitting on the washed-up rubbish at the ferry dock. A handsome monitor lizard. Smaller than the specimens from Komodo, but still: The things can be almost two meters long. The water-rich rainy season has washed particularly many of the animals into the city this year. People aren’t on their menu, locals say, but small animals are a good idea to bring into the home at night. Patrick Illinger

You can find more episodes of the “In the middle of …” column here.