Category Archives: Italy

Is the Cinema still open?

Sometimes, the sign for a place already gives me the feeling that the place might no longer exist. (Photographed at Matera in Italy.)

Posted in Basilicata, Cinema, Italy, Photography, Travel | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Ryanair Check-In Fees

“Avoid additional fees,” the e-mail from Ryanair said. Oh yes, I like avoiding fees. Especially after already having paid the advertised price for a flight, another fee for a bag, a fee for airport security, a fee for fuel, a … Continue reading

Posted in Italy, Law, Travel | Tagged | 10 Comments

“The Liberator” by Alex Kershaw

The full title of the book The Liberator: one World War II soldier’s 500-day odyssey from the beaches of Sicily to the gates of Dachau gives you the gist of the story already. It recounts the experience of Felix Sparks who served … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Germany, History, Holocaust, Italy, Military, Sicily, USA, World War II | Tagged , | 9 Comments

Video Blog: Giro d’Italia 2014

I just went outside to see why the neighbors are playing opera music and the national anthem and banging wooden sticks on baking trays and pots. The police came by in ever increasing numbers, trying to stop or at least contain the … Continue reading

Posted in Apulia, Cinema, Italy, Sports, Video Blog | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Railway Strikes in Italy

Question: How often is the railway in Italy affected by strike? Answer: Often enough for the timetables to include a column indicating whether this train will be operated during a strike or not (on the very right).

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Remember that Country?

I wonder if the ferry will split into 7 different boats once it’s in the Adriatic Sea, with the boats fighting each other for a few years before eventually all entering some EU port. (Photographed in Bari, Italy in May 2014. … Continue reading

Posted in Apulia, History, Italy, Photography, Politics, Travel | Tagged , | 4 Comments

“Italia dei Valori” explain anti-German election campaign

“Europeans, not Germans,” the posters of the Italian party Italia dei Valori (“Italy of Values”) are screaming out in an effort to gain votes in the upcoming elections to the European Parliament. As I have pointed out already, I find that a … Continue reading

Posted in Economics, Europe, Germany, Italy, Politics | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Emigrants are better people

Emigrants are bolder, willing to take on more risk, more active and more appreciative of freedom than those staying behind. General Patton already knew that. From his letter to the Allied forces before they first stepped onto the European continent by landing … Continue reading

Posted in Germany, History, Italy, Military, Sicily, USA, World War II | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Flowers on Graves

“We actually don’t care if our relatives will pay us a visit and put flowers on our graves. Nature is taking care of this already.” (Photographed at the cemetery of Bari in Italy.)

Posted in Apulia, Italy, Photography, Travel | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Italy Reading List

To me, travel would only be half as much fun without taking the time to read books. I am even happy about long train rides or ferry passages because they allow me to read for a few extra hours I … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Italy, Language, Sicily, Travel | 7 Comments