It is 30 September as I write this and the summer is still on, today it’s around 29°C in Marseille, more south, toward the Pyrenees it’s around 33°C. Normally, a September vignette starts with announcing the coolness of the weather. Not this time. I visited Cassis a bit earlier than usual and that was pleasant until Noon. The climate crisis affects every part of the world. Who do the politicians and the industry think they are?

Summer Two, the after-summer season, makes for quieter days at Cassis. The queue at my favorite bakery was less long, my pan bagnat sandwich and French black coffee were soon served and with those I enjoyed the view of the ever-enticing Cassis harbor. It was not a market day, those are on Wednesdays, yet, enough people around for the Cassis businesses – shops, restaurants and boat companies.

Pope Francis passed by around the corner from where I live. Well, how often do you see a pope in your neighborhood? Not being religious, I thought it was still a unique opportunity to see him while others enthusiastically wave with little flags. I did sense some collective unity there, that is quite a rare phenomenon. The question is why are we not united on all those important matters that concern all of us?

For most of Summer One, it was too warm for me to go for a hike. I mostly went out after 18hrs to avoid the intensity of the sun. There have been days in this region with a little rain and you could immediately feel the response from Nature, the refreshed soil and plants breathing again. In many parts of the world too much inundation, in other regions too much drought. What about a manmade harmonious-climate future?

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