I looked out of the window as the plane slowly taxied to the runway. Everything seemed as usual, but something was off. I just could not name it. We passed the modern T4 buildings and turned towards the northern runways for take off. I observed the slope that separates the airport from the nearby villages. And then it struck me. The slope was green. It was green in a country that is mostly yellow. The past months had been rainy due to a surprising weather phenomenon, and for the first time in as far as I can remember, the landscape was green. As the plane took off and started its climb, a wonderful spectacle unfolded in the mild evening sun. Green as far as the eye could see. Fields, mountains, valleys. Everything was green. The view was surprisingly soothing. My jaw relaxed and I suddenly realized how stressed I had been. Finally, the plane reached its cruising altitude, one of the few generally peaceful places left on Earth.

An unexpected green view