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What’s the difference between running in Metz and running in the States? Just several minutes into my daily jogs in Metz, I find myself in Fort de Queuleu, a fort built in 1868 which served as a WWII internment camp and held 1500 prisoners. Many aspects of the fort are tucked into the hills or peeking out from the trees - its so subtle that you might miss parts of it if you weren’t paying attention. At the same time, you can’t seem to escape it, as remnants of the fort present themselves at every twist and turn of the trail. The trail is a calming escape from everyday life, but its also eerie to compare the beauty and tranquility it offers today to the horrific events which transpired here just decades ago. In some ways, it feels unnatural to be running and playing in this historical fort. Yet today it serves as a running trail, so I let it serve its purpose while at the same time experiencing a rich historical lesson.
