Black Thursday

Berlin, February 2022

The afternoon I arrived to the low temperatures of Berlin, my sister Deborah had invited me over for a private Russian Sauna session in her friend’s backyard in Kreuzberg, right beside the canal. It had been built by the small community living there, with its own charm of funkiness and utility. Somehow it seemed much better than I thought, to be back in town as I did not want to leave my paradise in the Mediterranean, initially. But I also missed my sister very much, who I had not seen since November last year. Many things to do during the upcoming week, besides working a hell a lot for my newspaper, giving several interviews for radio and television, doing all the annual doctor‘s appointments such as dentist or gynecologist, who confirmed my fully state of menopause, by the way.

Soon after, the Russian‘s invasion began, while I was sleeping in the comfortable and warm bed in my former flat. I woke up a few times, glancing onto the half moon shining through the huge window front on the balcony into my room, while Ukraine was shining, glimmering and smoking from the Bombardement. No words. I have such a bad conscience being in this warm bed, healthy and happy. But there is nothing I can do besides working for the news. A few friends have relatives in Ukraine and make calls to organize private transports to the Belarus border, in order to pick up women and infants, as men are obliged to stay. Deborah found many candidates with big buses, who are all willing to help with whatever they can.

The only thing I have to transport back to Formentera is a very heavy tripod, given to me by my photographer friend Mirjam. I pick up the rest of my Hasselblad camera equipment from the storage room and prepare a huge hand luggage bag for the plane. Lets see if it will be accepted. Stefano said, I shall send it with parcel service, but so far, things have never arrived and got lost, thus tracking number. I better carry it close to me. Its so banal.

Whereas Katja, one of the initiators for Belarus border pick up, lost contact with her ukrainian friends due to the ongoing chaos of war.