When I hold this photo in my hands, the sea surface becomes liquid, flowing under viable rays of late August sun. Is it the memories resurfacing? Whatever the secret of sea coming to life so vividly, it's the reason this whole scenery is so "ideal" in summer, especially in the last two weeks of August when people are still flocking to Dubrovnik, although the usual run of things would rather have them back in their offices and classrooms as early as possible.
Ljubljana is one of those unfortunate cities that people abandon in summer, either to escape the heat or head off to the seaside where it's even worse. Yet, curiously, summer is also the season when Ljubljana is the most alive, for those who stay gather in cafés along the Ljubljanica river in evenings to chat without a worry in the world or have lazy breakfasts and brunches exclusively before noon when the sun reaches its highest point and you have to hide inside. The whole city is brimming with the energy it usually doesn't have.
If there exists an end of the world, it's probably Coney Island. Its atmosphere couldn't be more diametrically opposed to Manhattan, but it actually feels just as much like New York as the most famous of the five boroughs - the beauty of this city is exactly that it seamlessly unites its most contrasting aspects. I like Coney Island so much that I sometimes think I'd go there instead of Times Square or Lexington Ave if I could only be in New York for an hour.
One of my best friends is currently in New York. Although it's been more than a year since I've lived there, I don't envy her. After my return I used to panic over not being (in every sense of the word) there any more. Gradually I've grown to realize I don't have to worry about anything: the bond I have with this city will take care of my coming back when the time is right again.