My Dear Friend of Democracy,
There was this woman on the train.
We were standing in front of a coffee vending machine. The machine didn't dispense coffee. Whatever button we pressed, whatever coins we inserted. We exchanged a few words. She had learned German at school. After a few minutes I gave up, left without coffee. The woman stayed and kept trying.
After a while she came after me, brought me a coffee.
It's gestures like this that you don't forget when you travel.
And not only while travelling, right? When someone does something good for you, without getting any benefit from it.
Thank you Italian woman on your way to Rome. It is people like you who can make us believe in a peaceful, happy, functioning society.
See you in Europe,
Johannes