Category Archives: History
Visit Romania! (1964)
Ok, the film is a little bit older, but honestly, Romania isn’t all that much different today.
250,000 cigars
In his book The Churchill Factor, Boris Johnson makes the apodictic claim that Winston Churchill smoked 250,000 cigars over his lifetime. This number looks too much like it has been pulled out of Mr Churchill’s famous hat. Let’s apply some … Continue reading
Easily Confused (54) Impaling
Impaling in the 15th century: Impaling in the 21st century: No wonder this method of barbecuing pork is popular in Transylvania. Poor pigs. :-( After seeing this photo, I think I will become vegetarian for a week or so. (Thanks … Continue reading
Idols
One is Michael the Brave, at one time the Prince of Wallachia, Transylvania and Moldova, and the first Romanian ruler to rule over these three principalities together, albeit only for half a year. The other one used to play football. One … Continue reading
Book Review: “Young Philby” by Robert Littell
I don’t know why I go for historical fiction or alternative history again and again, when I should know by now that I’ll be annoyed or disappointed. In Young Philby, Robert Littell tries to flesh out the early life of … Continue reading
When terrorism was a women’s issue
Remember when your grandmother told you about her time with the Suffragettes, the women campaigning for voting rights in early 20th-century Britain? But they did not only pass out pamphlets, give speeches and sit around knitting and drinking tea. No, some of … Continue reading
Film Review: “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”
There are spy stories which have become better by being turned into movies (Ian Fleming’s James Bond being the prime example) and there are those whose writers never should have given permission for their stories to be put on the screen. Tom Rob Smith’s Child … Continue reading
Easily confused (52) Hungarian fences
Hungarian fence in 1989: Helping economic migrants who want to buy better cars and bananas – good. Hungarian fence in 2015: Helping genuine refugees from war-ravaged countries who risk their lives to survive – bad. And just because it rhymes: Hungarian dance
Hotel Trianon
I bet this hotel in Amsterdam doesn’t receive many guests from Hungary. Ok, that one is hard to understand for non-Hungarians or non-historians. Don’t worry about it, or – if you have too much time on your hands – read … Continue reading
Is it Târgu Mureș or Tîrgu Mureș?
I have been living in this beautiful town in Transylvania for almost a year, yet hardly any of my foreign friends have visited me here. It’s not that they wouldn’t be interested, but it’s just too complicated to travel here … Continue reading
The Happy Hermit 