Category Archives: Canada

One Hundred Years Ago, the Battlefields turned Red – November 1921: Poppies

Zur deutschen Fassung. Since this is not only a history blog, but also a travel blog, I naturally thought of combining these two aspects when I began the “One Hundred Years Ago …” series. Under the pretext of urgently having … Continue reading

Posted in Belgium, Canada, History, Military, Photography, Travel, UK, World War I | Tagged | 9 Comments

“How are you?”

Someone: How are you? Me: Confused. Someone: Oh. I am sorry to hear that. Me: No, that’s OK. I am studying philosophy. When I first went to Israel on a youth exchange program, I stayed with a family in a … Continue reading

Posted in Canada, Israel, Language, Life | 25 Comments

Canmore, the better Banff

In every country, there is a place that everyone, literally everyone, recommends you to visit. Actually, recommend is too weak of a word for the obtrusiveness: “You have to go there!” Instinctively, this raises some resistance with me, because I … Continue reading

Posted in Canada, Photography, Travel | Tagged , , , , , | 12 Comments

When Train Travel means Time Travel: on the Mennonite Express from Winnipeg to Toronto

Zur deutschen Fassung dieses Artikels. This is the third part of the crossing-Canada-by-train trilogy, hence my recommendation to read part 1 and part 2 first. Otherwise, the whole story will go haywire and derail like a freight train, setting an innocent town ablaze. … Continue reading

Posted in Canada, Religion, Technology, Travel | Tagged , , , | 34 Comments

A Train full of Old Men – from Edmonton to Winnipeg

In the first part of this Trans-Canadian railway trilogy, the prior perusal of which I recommend for reasons of strictly following the timetable, I had written about the historical importance of the railway for the establishment of Canada. The current … Continue reading

Posted in Canada, Photography, Travel | Tagged , , | 12 Comments

Communism in Canada?

With elections less than a month away in the province of Alberta, political placards are sprouting faster than crocuses. “Communism coming soon,” I read on one, coincidentally as I was walking to the grocery cooperative, and I thought: “Well, that … Continue reading

Posted in Canada, Politics, Travel | 4 Comments

William Somerset Maugham in a Box

I read a lot, but, with few exceptions, I feel no urge to maintain physical possession of books after having read them. Quite the contrary, I find them put to much better use if I pass them on as gifts, … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Canada, Photography | Tagged | 5 Comments

Random Thoughts (24)

Good news: the days are getting longer. Unless you live in the Southern hemisphere, then you are doomed to darkness. And unless you live on the equator, in which case you are missing out on something fabulous. My sister asked … Continue reading

Posted in Austria, Books, Brazil, Canada, Economics, Germany, Iran, Language, Politics, Religion, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Travel, UK, USA | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Did you notice the Irony? (23) Machismo

Dear Calgary Sun, I don’t think we need a microscope to spot the machismo on this page. Nice juxtaposition, really, and all too common, sadly. Whenever I read about traditional gender stereotypes or objectification of women, I just need to … Continue reading

Posted in Canada | Tagged , | 5 Comments

The Danger of a Beautiful Day

It was supposed to be winter, but the day was unseasonably mild, warm even. I dressed quickly, confident that I needed neither hat nor gloves, and left the house, lured outside by the sun, the warmth and the joyful day … Continue reading

Posted in Canada, Life, Photography | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments