on thin ice

today something absolutely unusual happened in heidelberg. the river neckar, which goes through the city, got all frozen over. well, not all, but still. and it would make sense, since we've constantly been below zero for the whole past week. just, it doesn't. i've been living here four years now, almost to the day, and never in these four years have i seen the river freeze. it's because the water passes through the bars of a nuclear power plant (cool, isn't it? damn!) somewhere up along the course of the river, and it gets all heated up... at least that's what i've been told all the time. it doesn't freeze anymore, they say. one of these sentences that take you back to a different place in space and time. there isn't the good old fog anymore, here's another one i like, from the flatlands in the north of italy.
not true, apparently. i mean, the whole power plant heating the water story. urban legend? don't know, should maybe investigate. or not. just enjoy the show. surprises are always well received. the icy layer's pretty thin though. i wouldn't skate on it, as they did in the good old times. probably too thin even for the ducks...