Go past the labyrinth of corridors awash with anemic
fluorescent lights. Go past cold metal doors behind where machines ceaselessly
hum. Warm light welcomes at
end of the hall.
The smell of coffee leads to a wide, open space. The 200-square meter quadrangle is a garden oasis enclosed
by low buildings. Look up and the confines of the walls disappear. The
indigo sky refreshes the eyes. Sunlight melts away the stiffness. People come
here to take in the sun and air. This is where
they take a break. They bring coffee and cigarettes,
and their laughter lightens the heart.
On the left side, a landscaped garden stretches
for ten meters. Ferns and
trees of different species make up the design. Weeds called Creeping Charlie
carpet the soil. They appear like a crowd of tiny umbrellas. Ferns two feet
high loom over the weeds. Behind the ferns, diverse palm trees showcase their mixed
patterns. Some wear spikes with rings on their trunks. Some have stems that pop
like fireworks. One tree unfolds like a fountain. Another displays leaves like pointed
spears. The landscape mixes shades of olive, mint and lime. The lanky Kalachuchi trees tower like soggy poles over
the rest. They stand out with flowers like perched sparrows.
Opposite the garden, two large Octopus trees
spread out their thick branches. Twisted roots resembling tentacles run up to
tip of the branches. The
intertwined branches form a canopy of leaves. They offer shade from intense
summer heat. During bad weather, they screen the heavy downpour.
At night, the trees and the garden fade in the
shadows. Soft light comes
from the corners of the buildings. The moon casts down its golden beam for
added glow. Sometimes, cold evenings bring
wispy mists. On such nights, you can almost pretend you
are someplace else.
