Basel
At the architects' office they were just having their coffee break. They streamed from every hidden corner into a bare room where coffee and tea were being served. Their chatter filled the room with warmth.
Claudio was glad to see me, and greeted me warmly. We took tea. Claudio was curious, he wanted to know what I had done over the last thirty-nine days.
I was curious too, wanting to know what surprise he had in store for me.
After I had told him more or less everything about my trip, he revealed to me his secret:
I know you like to take photographs of lavatories. What you don't know is that on the first floor of this building there is the most beautiful lavatory in the whole world. Before you look at it, I want to give you some advice for the rest of your life. As a mountaineer, I speak from experience. Tomorrow, on your fortieth birthday, you will have reached the pinnacle of your life. It has been a stressful climb, you have overcome many obstacles. Enjoy the view tomorrow, the panorama. Look back once again! At the same time, you will have to think about the descent, organise life after forty. It's downhill all the way from now on, and at the bottom death awaits. And then chance, those you leave behind, or the State, will decide where you are to be buried. Perhaps you will even be scattered to the winds.
"A charming prospect!", I replied.
