Blink Eight Times

tram stations

The blue sky

I look out the window on my right. At first, a bright blue sky fills my entire field of vision. Suddenly the entire train car becomes transparent all around me. I see the rails below—the train car glides peacefully, silently above without touching them. I look back to my right. I no longer can make out any familiar features of a street: no signs, no division between the areas designated for pedestrians, cyclists, and cars. It seems there are very few cars at all, and their form appears very strange to me. Much like the train in which I now sit, for the most part they are transparent. Looking through their transparent roofs, I’m unable to recognize a steering wheel or anything like it. The cars move very slowly and gracefully around the pedestrians and skaters. The size varies, as does the number of seats, which range from one to thirteen. Will my mind accept the words “street” and “traffic” to describe what I’m seeing? I’m about to get out and take a closer look.”

Ursula K. L.G., Essen, 2002

  • Would you also like to read the travelogue from another world? Turn to page 14.

  • Are you itching to get out and experience all kinds of things? Then turn to page 15.

  • Are you on the tram? About to reach Essen Hauptbahnhof (Hbf), the end of our trip together? Please exit at Hbf and continue reading on page 66.