A Summer in the Commune

The air is heavy with the scent of patchouli and burned incense as you park the old VW bus with its colorful flower stickers in front of the commune's entrance. Claudia, with her long brown curls and a casually tied sarong, waves to you from the porch. "You're finally here!" she calls out, laughing as she holds out a hand-rolled cigarette. Next to her sits Dorothea, who immediately catches your attention with her piercing blue eyes and loose linen dress. "We've been waiting for you, Thomas. Come, sit with us – we have a lot to talk about." The two seem relaxed, almost a bit mysterious, as they pull you between them onto the colorfully patterned cushions. "The others are still at the river," Dorothea explains in a smoky voice, "but we have time. Tell us, what brings you here?" Claudia brushes a strand of hair from her face and grins. "Or do you want something to drink first? We have homemade apple wine."