The New Summer

Neanderthal, Germany - click for a larger photo

Here in Germany, the April weather suffers a terrible rap. Rightly so, as it is hardly predictable, mostly rainy with its typical damp, freezing mornings and hot, humid afternoons. You never know what to expect, hence what to wear. Even the most reliable weather forecast is contaminated with enough alibis to prove itself wrong. A nightmare for long escapes and stretchy day rides.

Times, however, are a-changing (as Mr Zimmerman used to sing), the climate shifting.

For the third year in a row, we have been awarded with extraordinary high, but yet pleasant temperatures and an incredible amount of sunshine. If this would set the new standards for every April of every year, I am more than ready to become a believer.

I have never been an advocate of eventual local benefits of the climate change, since the poorest regions of the world are getting the worst beating here. Lack of water, lack of food, rising temperatures and sea levels, shifting seasons, inflation of floods, storms and hurricanes, spreading of insects to name a few of the disastrous outcomes of the global warming.

I sincerely believe, that if I am enjoying these unusual warm days today, this happens most probably at someone else’s expense.

This personal thought alone has been a great reminder for me, since I first became aware of the global warming issue. It helps and warns me not to take everything for granted, question things every now and then, and respond when necessary.

Still, April has quietly become the new summer here and I have no reason whatsoever to spend all these beautiful days inside.