Freiburg

Alhassan Zakaria is strolling around in the city of Freiburg.

What strikes me as I walk through the streets of Freiburg as a visiting journalist is the fact that I do not hear drivers blow their car horn. The vehicles are all “mute.” The only siren I hear sometimes is from the Police.

As the numerous vehicles, trams, trains and cyclists and pedestrians criss-cross each other, everything seem to be automated with none overstepping its boundaries. And for the past three weeks of my stay in the city, I am yet to witness any accident situation. Hawking on the roads is non-existent.

Bicycles are everywhere. Arguably, everybody, including young and old of both sexes can ride a bicycle. The bicycle lanes are well-laid out without any obstruction from motorists or pedestrians. Most people also use the trams as means of moving around the city. The trams are always on time and are fast. Motorists respect pedestrians on their right of way. On several occasions, I have seen cars stop to give way to pedestrians to pass.

The drains in the city are sealed except for the remarkable open canals that serves as tourists attraction. Litter bins are placed at vantage locations where people can easily dump their waste materials without breaking their back. As a result the roads and environment are clean at all times.

Apart from having places of convenience in every home and office, decent public toilets and urinary are not in short supply in the city.

The mayor of Freiburg, Dr. Dieter Salomon has a website that allow both residents and non-residents to rate his performance. Wow!

Freiburgers love shopping. And there seem to abundance of shopping malls to satisfy the needs of the population. The numerous eateries are also highly patronized as drinking of Coffee is the order of the day. Have you ever tasted Cappuccino?

There is also open display of romance between supposed lovers. I encounter them daily in the open, the trams, shops and buses kissing each other with wanton abandon. I just looked on in amusement.

The ladies are not in shout supply either. They come in slim sizes of varying heights all in tight fitting jeans of different made and designs. Young, innocent and charming. The fascinating thing is that majority of the young ladies are in school. Indeed more than 10 percent of the 200,000 population are made up of students. I also learnt that majority of ladies in Freiburg marry late into their 30s because during their teens and 20s, they are usually in school acquiring certificates to make them knowledgeable and employable.

Freiburg is mainly a Christian city with many medieval Church buildings. About 95 percent of the population are said to be Christians but very few of them actually attend church services over the weekend. Both Christians and the minority Muslims co-exist peacefully. The Muslims are mainly of Arab origin.

On my rounds, I have often spot some silent paupers seated at obscure corners. The daily stress of life has also claimed some casualties. Psychotherapist are on hand to take care of some of them. Those whose illness are serious can be seen seated under bridges and trees sometimes talking to themselves.

There is minimal crime rate. The smartly dressed Police men and women patrol the city day and night. They are also in the local communities wearing friendly smiles.

There is no heavy presence of blacks in Freiburg because of the lack of factories and industries in the area. It is basically a white collar city. The few blacks you meet are either schooling or engaged in formal work..

Sorry, it is almost 6pm local time and I have to rush to my humble abode in the boarding house to escape from the biting cold. I am already feeling numb in my feet and hands. Oh this terrible cold. I will be home in a week you know!