德国男子游泳去上班

Most commuters in Munich, Germany, spend hours stuck in traffic or trying to squeeze into one of the overcrowded subway trains, every morning, but for 40-year-old Benjamin David, commuting³ is actually a relaxing experience. Every day, he jumps into the Isar River and swims two kilometers to his workplace in Kulturstrand. 

 

在德国慕尼黑，每天清晨，大多数上班族都要在路上滞留数小时，就是想坐地铁也不一定挤得上去。但是对40岁的本杰明·戴维来说，通勤却是一件放松的事情。他游泳去上班，从伊萨尔河开始游2千米到他的工作地点——文化海滩。
 

 

Benjamin David used to be one of the thousands of Münchners trying to make their way to work on busy roads and cycling paths, but two years ago he decided⁴ that he needed to find a simpler alternative and the Isar River seemed like the obvious answer. It flows right past his apartment in Baldeplatz, and, even though no one has been using it for traveling purposes in decades, it used to be the best ways to get around. People traveled up and down the Isar using rafts, and, at one point, it was one of the most popular routes between Rome and Vienna. But instead of paddling on a raft, Benjamin decided to swim to work instead, and that's been his main commute¹ for the past two years. 

 

Every morning, Benjamin, the founder⁵ and spokesman⁶ of a small think tank for culture and commerce in public places, leaves his apartment in Baldeplatz, crosses the street and jumps into the Isar River. He has to swim two kilometers to his office in Kulturstrand, which usually takes him about half an hour. Once there, he dries himself with a towel, puts on a t-shirt and waits for his colleagues to get through the heavy traffic, by enjoying a cappuccino at a cafe.

 

The swimming commuter² found the perfect way to keep his things dry while he is in the water - a special bag that is not only waterproof⁷, but also fills up with air when you roll it shut, acting⁸ as a buoy⁹. It's called a "Wickelfisch" and it was designed by a startup in Basel, Switzerland, where swimming to work has actually become a big trend. It holds Benjamin's laptop, paperwork and clothes dry, and allows him to simply float down the river if his arms get tired.

 

Depending on the season and temperature of the water, Benjamin will put on a simple pair of shorts or a wet suit, but he always wears rubber sandals to protect his feet. People throw all kinds of things in the river, from glass bottles to bicycles, and the sandals provide protection.

分享到：