In the middle of… Buenos Aires
Illustration: Marc Herold
“To the airport?” asks the taxi driver, shaking his head pityingly. And then, as he maneuvers his car through the streets of Buenos Aires, which have been punctured by the economic crisis, the man explains that there is another major demonstration downtown. “Protests, roadblocks: it’s like this every damn day now!” he curses and hits the gas. The anger increases, the speed too, in record time you are at the airport, there is no sign of demonstrators. “Everybody’s lazy,” scolds the taxi driver anyway. “Instead of demonstrating, they should go to work!” As soon as you enter the terminal, you hear chanting and drumming. The protests are taking place in front of an airline counter. Former employees demonstrate here. Their banners read: “All we want is to work.” Christopher Gurk
In the middle of… hair
Illustration: Marc Herold
The day when you are finally allowed to leave the apartment for free testing brings variety in quarantine with small children. The test center on the old barracks in Haar is known for being able to get there without an appointment. Between the barriers that are supposed to bring order to the queues of those waiting, security guards ask whether you are even entitled to get one of the coveted free tests. “I met someone who is positive now,” says one man. “Who?” the security guard wants to know more about. “My ex-wife,” is the short answer. A second security guard comes over curiously: “Did you have something to say to each other?” The man pushes around a bit: “Well, yes.” The two then wave him through with a grin. Kerstin Lottritz
In the middle of… Nagano
Illustration: Marc Herold
The journey to Hakuba is yet another proof of the precision of the Japanese railway. However, different than expected. Punctually at the Itoigawa transfer point, the station staff announced that the train to Hakuba was cancelled. The station staff at its departure point Omiya apologize for not having informed about this. With a set of new tickets, I’m sent on a different route via Nagano. In Nagano, a lady from the station staff at the entrance to the platforms is puzzling over the new tickets. And that until shortly after 6.10 p.m., so that I only see the doors of the punctual 6.11 p.m. train closing. The lady apologizes and solves the crisis with Japanese thoroughness. 45 minutes later, she refunds the fare and recommends a new route. Hakuba is reached at 9:20 p.m. By bus. Thomas Hahn