In the middle of … Washington, DC
Illustration: Marc Herold
I have already emailed six interview requests to the aspiring US MP Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC). Without answer. Now I’m in DC myself, maybe it will work out after all? First morning in town, a demonstration, civil rights legend Jesse Jackson marching in front. Spontaneously asked the bodyguard, Jackson shakes my hand. What a city, what a closeness to its protagonists! Later I sit in front of the Capitol, not far away a crowd of people is forming around a young woman, but wait a minute, it won’t, it can’t … Yes, actually: AOC is talking to a group of young people there! Quickly added, listened, waited. Then my chance: I’m just about to ask you for an interview when your watchful assistant intercepts me. I should rather send an email, please. Patrick Wehner
In the middle of … Gelsenkirchen
Illustration: Marc Herold
In the vicinity of the glass opera house in Gelsenkirchen there is an impressive optical illusion that is also a fountain. A massive black granite block appears to be held by a high water fountain a few meters high in the middle of a square basin. The work of art is called – quite appropriately – “The Power of Water”. It is rounded off a bit carelessly by a rusty no bathing sign. However, it doesn’t seem to have much effect, at least not today: a boy wades through the shallow well and cools his feet. Whether he overlooked the prohibition sign or deliberately disregarded it remains to be seen. In his daring breach of the law, he demonstrates what power water can still have: refreshment on a hot summer day. Julius Bretzel
In the middle of … Bologna
Illustration: Marc Herold
We needed a room, the friend recommended Bolognina, the area behind the main train station. Appeared modern and clean. Well, we have to admit on arrival that there would have been accommodations that didn’t look so much like internationally styled hipsters. At dinner the friend asks where we are staying. The Student Hotel, yeah, knows them. Formerly an office building, then it was occupied, finally evacuated, huge uproar in left-wing Bologna. And then this would-be student thing opened up, from a Dutch company. It is the most talked about gentrification project right now, she says. Jeez The next day we walk through the neighborhood. On a wall someone wrote: “Peggio della pandemia c’è solo lo Student Hotel.” The only thing worse than the pandemic is the Student Hotel. Elisa Britzelmeier