The senses of summer

It does not matter how it arrives: whether it slowly sneaks up on us with continuously increasing temperatures and spotless skies or if it suddenly bursts in after rainy days with scorching heat. The appearance of summer can be noticed in many ways: from the days getting longer and longer, the first brave ones going for a dip in the sea, the abundance of outdoor activities… For me, the loveliest and most telling signs for the arrival of summer are its scents, sounds, tastes and sights – even more so in Valencia.

The scents I adore

• The subtle hint of exotic flowers blooming all around town;
• The smell of freshly cut grass when I cycle through the park;
• The appalling yet familiar stink of chlorine from the outdoor swimming pools;
• The harsh smoke of barbecues mixed with the smell of delicious food;
• The scent in the air after a quick summer storm with warm rain.

The sounds I cherish

• The carefree shrieks of children playing catch with the waves;
• The blasting music from all corners of the city signalling festivals and parties all around – even if they barely let me sleep at nights;
• The birds chirping and tweeting in the morning, warning of the first rays of sun;
• The calming murmur of the sea in the distance;
• The well-known song of the ice cream cart driving around.

The tastes I love

• The sticky, sugary cotton candy from town fairs and festivals;
• The refreshingly sweet pitcher of tinto de verano shared with friends;
• The fattiest, saltiest most unhealthy but most delicious bacon grilled on open fire with my parents;
• The cool vanilla-taste of my grandma’s madártej, a Hungarian dessert;
• The unmistakable freshness of the fruit and vegetable grown in my parents’ garden.

The sights I enjoy

• The neat rows of crops as far as the eye can see;
• Groups of excited teens interrailing, travelling without their parents for the first time;
• The progress of all kinds of baby animals born in the summer: the first successful hunt of a kitten, the puppy’s new trick, nestlings flying with their parents;
• The heaps of people heading to the beach for the weekend;
• The wonderful diverse colours of nature.

I do not only take pleasure in these things for their pure presence – although that is one of the most important reasons. Some of them are especially important because the bring back the most wonderful memories of my life connecting me to people who are far away or no longer with us. Others are more generic but make me feel like nothing much has changed in the end – the birds are still chirping, the grass is still growing, and kids are still playing. Despite all the depressing news out there, all is well with the world.