Up on the Roof

We live in the heart of the Alt Stadt (Old Town) of St. Gallen in a penthouse (attic) apartment in a 500 year old building. We are fortunate, we are told, in being in one of the few buildings with an elevator (added much later). Large wooden beams (some 8" across) supporting the roof are exposed around the edges of our flat. I have to pay attention not to stand up too fast lest I knock myself out when rummaging in storage areas. Our windows to the outside of the building are small portholes 41 cm across (about 16 inches) but it’s a large sunny apartment due to the six skylights and our central open air atrium. From our living room we see the atrium through a glass wall with doors. Best of all, our atrium has a ladder to the roof which has a grand view for parades, fireworks and whatever happens to be going on in Alt Stadt. Here is our northeast roof view. The fleur de lis fence is our guardrail and that’s not laundry hanging in the street but banners celebrating ecology, I think. They are always celebrating something here. K Q:-)