The Spanish crane fly

Barcelona or Bavaria, it doesn’t really matter as long as the sun is shining. My name is Mio, and I’m a Tipula confusa crane fly, a member of the Tipulidae family. In my life, I’ve been called all sorts of different names. Tipula confusa doesn’t sound nice, but I’m afraid that too many people will be scared by the word “mosquito” and avoid my company. So let’s call me a crane fly. Here’s my story:

My hometown is Barcelona and my trip to Bavaria was not planned. One day I found myself in a train carriage by chance, attracted by the warmth and the activity on the railway track. Of course, Munich is familiar to me, after all, as a crane fly, enchanted by the lively football matches, I danced around the flickering images on the TV screen that shone directly at me from this city. When the train finally arrived at Munich Central Station, it was autumn and the city was buzzing with people flocking to the Oktoberfest. As a single crane fly, I have the luxury of being able to embark on new experiences without having to think about returning home straight away.

During the ride, I was worried that it might be too cold for me in Bavaria. This fear tormented me because I didn’t know how I would cope in a foreign climate. But when I flew out of the train, I was surprised to feel almost no difference. The sun warmed my wings and the air was filled with the sounds and smells of a somehow familiar city. It was as if a piece of Barcelona had travelled with me.

I am a well-read crane fly, and I have already buzzed through quite a few libraries in search of new knowledge. Of course, I’ve also read about the shifting climate zones in Europe. The boundaries between warm and cold, between south and north, seem to be becoming increasingly blurred. Places that were once too cold for certain arthropods are now becoming new havens. As a Spanish crane fly in Bavaria, I am an example of this shift. As appealing as the new adventure may be, the reality of climate change is a serious matter. The changes in climate zones bring not only opportunities but also challenges and risks. New ecosystems are emerging, while others are under threat.

My time in Bavaria was filled with discoveries and new experiences. I immersed myself in flora and fauna, enjoyed quiet hours in the English Garden, buzzed around between the colorfully decorated beer tents, and listened to the cheerful songs of the people. But despite my initial fascination with this new country, I began to miss Barcelona. The end of my trip was marked one evening by an unexpected autumn storm. The sudden chill, a harbinger of the approaching winter, made me reflect and long for my hometown.

Thus ends my Bavarian episode, an adventure that teaches me to appreciate the beauty and diversity of the world, but also the importance of home and belonging. Bavaria will remain in my memory as a country that showed me how the world is changing and how important it is to recognise and respond to these changes. With one last look at the autumn landscape, I take to the skies and make my way back to the train station. Will I find the right connection home? At the same time, I hope that the train drivers won’t go on a labor strike and delay my journey home. Soon, I imagine, I’ll be floating through the familiar streets of Barcelona again.