Sketch of Sapporo

It's hot in Sapporo. There's hardly a cloud in the sky above the city. Passersby have chosen the shady side of the street — taking shelter from the sun's rays. In the city park near Sapporo TV Tower, old men sit languidly under the shade of trees. A grandfather in a cap and black tank top has leaned back against the bench, lifted his head and catches the breeze. At intersections, workers in white shirts lean against building walls, waiting for the green light. Where could you escape from this sun. Near the beer museum, tourists from Malaysia sit waiting for the bus. The museum itself is still closed, but the ice cream stand opened half an hour early.

In the river in the northwestern part of the city, children and adults are swimming right in their clothes, some just sitting on rocks with their feet dangling in the water. I think I found the perfect spot — Muruyama park. The sluggish wandering in the heat gave way to hustle and bustle as soon as the sun started heading toward the horizon. The workday is over, and Sapporo is getting ready for evening life. A guy with a girl, waiters already in uniform heading to their cafes and restaurants. Those same workers in white shirts, slightly wrinkled today, sit in a bar after work. A girl on a bike waits for her friend in the Susukino bar and entertainment district, talking on the phone. And I'm hurrying home to take a shower and change clothes to make it to this celebration of life.