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fabrisseI have cities I visit. I have cities in which I've lived and been happy; that doesn't make them one of "my cities." Boston is an example. I have more friends there than anywhere else in the country. It feels comfortable when I'm there. The Charles is beautiful. My mental map for walking is good. But it's not "my city." London is similar for me. I know it well. Some of the best experiences of my life were there, but it was never home.
DC is. Brussels is. Mannheim is.
I only lived in Mannheim for about 18 months. It's not as pretty as Heidelberg. Its University is younger than I am. It's not a major center anymore. And its street grid/address system confuses many, many people -- though I loved it. (I lived at J7.)
Mannheim City Center
Today, someone committed vehicular manslaughter (at least) in the city center. Several people, per the Guardian, have been injured, too. The driver sped up a pedestrian street to the heart of the city.
I used to catch the tram to my office near K1. I would buy a pastry at the bakery if I wasn't running late and stop for my groceries on the way home. On Wednesday, I went to the cafe on the top floor of the local department store and had apricot germknoedel mit zimt. They had the traditional type, too, but I liked apricot.
The area where the pedestrians were run down is the Parade Platz in the center, where the farmer's market was held on Saturday. They had the most beautiful cauliflower, I'd ever seen. Every Sunday I would walk the mile to the train station to buy The Observer and a schnecke pastry for breakfast. I'd often repeat the walk in the late afternoon to have Chinese food at a restaurant near the station.
The Rhein runs on one side of Mannheim. The Neckar runs into it. I still won't buy anything from BASF because they once poisoned the Rhein while I lived there.
It was only 18 months. I wasn't always happy there, but I loved my apartment. I loved my walks. I loved my city.
This is the third time in a decade that one of my cities has been attacked. Brussels was in March of 2016. DC was attacked on January 6, 2021. And now a senseless attack in Mannheim.
These are my cities.
DC is. Brussels is. Mannheim is.
I only lived in Mannheim for about 18 months. It's not as pretty as Heidelberg. Its University is younger than I am. It's not a major center anymore. And its street grid/address system confuses many, many people -- though I loved it. (I lived at J7.)
Mannheim City Center
Today, someone committed vehicular manslaughter (at least) in the city center. Several people, per the Guardian, have been injured, too. The driver sped up a pedestrian street to the heart of the city.
I used to catch the tram to my office near K1. I would buy a pastry at the bakery if I wasn't running late and stop for my groceries on the way home. On Wednesday, I went to the cafe on the top floor of the local department store and had apricot germknoedel mit zimt. They had the traditional type, too, but I liked apricot.
The area where the pedestrians were run down is the Parade Platz in the center, where the farmer's market was held on Saturday. They had the most beautiful cauliflower, I'd ever seen. Every Sunday I would walk the mile to the train station to buy The Observer and a schnecke pastry for breakfast. I'd often repeat the walk in the late afternoon to have Chinese food at a restaurant near the station.
The Rhein runs on one side of Mannheim. The Neckar runs into it. I still won't buy anything from BASF because they once poisoned the Rhein while I lived there.
It was only 18 months. I wasn't always happy there, but I loved my apartment. I loved my walks. I loved my city.
This is the third time in a decade that one of my cities has been attacked. Brussels was in March of 2016. DC was attacked on January 6, 2021. And now a senseless attack in Mannheim.
These are my cities.
