In the middle of…Funchal
Illustration: Marc Herold
The Christianization of Madeira is progressing. The airport of the Portuguese island is officially called Aeroporto Cristiano Ronaldo, in the capital Funchal there is a CR7 hotel, a CR7 museum and a CR7 restaurant where you can order “Best Scorer Sandwich” and “Fairplay Lunch”. The main attraction is the ugly bronze statue at the port. Tourists queue up for a photo with Madeira’s most famous son. Not only CR7 fans are fascinated by the work: distorted facial features, typical theatrical free-kick posture, larger-than-life proportions that correspond more to the footballer’s ego than to reality. The behavior of the fans is also bizarre: the hands and crotch of the statue shine golden, while the rest looks more dull brown. Ronaldo’s best piece is scuffed. A courageous grip on his privates is said to bring good luck. Titus Arno
In the middle of … Salzburg
Illustration: Marc Herold
Easter Festival in Salzburg. You’re all dressed up and of course you want a souvenir photo. Would the break neighbor be so friendly? You throw yourself into position, put one leg forward, bow your head – didn’t your mom teach you that? Then the amateur photographer grumbles: “Don’t look so crooked, stand up straight!” Doubtfully one follows the request. The result: stiff enough to forget. second evening. A photographer from the old school is on the way. In the past, everyone would have been keen to have their picture taken by him for good money. Today he has to urge the festival visitors to pose for a photo. So then: line up, head straight, legs parallel. Then he calls out with wonderful Austrian charm: “Please, ladies, tilt your head a little and put one leg forward.” Very old school. She just knows how it’s done. Evelyn Vogel
In the middle of … Hanover
Illustration: Marc Herold
There is not much going on at Hannover Messe/Laatzen station on this Monday afternoon in April. The concourse is empty except for a few volunteers in safety vests at the other end of the concourse. Special trains bring refugees from the Ukraine from the German border here, and a trade fair hall has been converted into an emergency shelter. The wind howls and sweeps cold rain across the platform, the sky is slate gray. What an inhospitable place to arrive in Germany, I think to myself as I cross the hall with a colleague in search of the next S-Bahn to the main train station. One of the helpers in a high-visibility vest comes towards us and says something, friendly – in Russian. A train driver translates: The man just wanted to know if he could help us. But not so inhospitable here in Hanover. Veronica Wulf