Summer. Suddenly everything is in order. It's no coincidence that "Summertime" is one of my favourite jazz classics. It feels like it's light 24/7. Why not take a walk through the city at night? I survive the winter every year, but in summer all doubts, worries and old-established world-weariness fade away. I like dresses, loose-fitting trousers, sunglasses and smiling pedestrians. Anyone who sees me smiling as I walk through Halle knows that it's summer.
When I think about it
...what makes me happy, I have to smile: Major 7 chords, mangoes from my grandma's garden, my current favourite song, when my curls look nice, family parties, old photos and videos, the taste of water when I'm thirsty, travelling with the best, chips, WiFi, sleep when others are happy, flawless nail polish, smoothies, when strangers smile back, tidiness, good live bands, holidays, my bank account at the beginning of the month, coming home...summer. I love that feeling of opening the curtains in the morning and starting the day with sunshine. The streets are lively, the cafés are full, Marktplatz and August-Bebel-Platz are bustling. Are you sweating? Don't worry, the others are too.
I start my perfect summer day with a morning walk towards Ziegelwiese. I'm so grateful for all the greenery. Even the walk to the Peißnitz clears my head. The motivated portion of Halle's population is jogging, the red and white tram races past me. Pupils run to class in small groups, older couples do their laps arm in arm and I grin in everyone's face as if on drugs. The swans and ducks enjoy their peace and quiet on the fountain pond. I bump into a friend who, luckily, is in just as good a mood as I am. As we walk towards Uniplatz, we catch up on our moderately exciting lives. The colourful fruit and vegetable vendors on Geiststrasse and Grosse Ulrichstrasse look tempting. We grab an iced latte with oat milk at 7 Gramm and sit down on the steps in front of the Juridicum. I don't really tolerate caffeine that well, but hey, it's summer. In the afternoon, I go pedal boating on the Saale with another friend. It's so nice to look out over the glistening water, feel the sun on my skin bathed in sun cream, watch the children playing and adults splashing around on the banks and at the same time pedal along in an almost trance-like rhythm. Pure holiday feeling. And in the middle of the city, in the middle of a non-holiday. I can't complain.
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