Category Archives: Lithuania

Journey to the Center of Europe

Zur deutschen Fassung. It is July 15th, 2022. The early hours of the day are still morning-pleasantly fresh, although it will turn into a very hot day. There is even a bit of a drizzle in between. The kind of … Continue reading

Posted in Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, Europe, France, Germany, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden, Travel, Ukraine | Tagged | 9 Comments

A Postcard from Trakai

Zur deutschen Fassung. I don’t remember exactly what year I moved to Lithuania. It must have been about ten years ago. But I do remember that it was on July 1st. Because in the same week, on July 6th, was … Continue reading

Posted in Lithuania, Photography | Tagged , | 8 Comments

“Sovietistan” and “The Border” by Erika Fatland

Hier gibt es diese Rezension auf Deutsch. Do you also have so many travel guides at home for countries you never made it to? I still got a Lonely Planet guidebook for Central Asia, which I bought in 2007. Apparently, … Continue reading

Posted in Abkhazia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Books, China, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, North Korea, Norway, Poland, Ukraine | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Your name in Lithuanian

Each time I receive a message from my bank in Lithuania, I am reminded of the insistence of that language to Lithuanianize foreign names, although I don’t quite understand what’s wrong with my first name, which already ends in a … Continue reading

Posted in Cinema, Language, Lithuania | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Random Thoughts (17)

Now I know why it’s called CATalonia: it doesn’t know if it wants to walk through the door or not. Shouldn’t nobody sign no contract that they ain’t read before. (I am now giving legal advice in country lyrics, at … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Law, Lithuania, Politics, Spain, Time, Travel, USA | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Where is the center of Europe?

Zur deutschen Fassung dieses Artikels. Reading the book Black Earth, I became aware of a village in Ukraine that was calculated and named as the geographical center of Europe in 1887: Dilove. “Really?“ I wondered, not because I would begrudge Dilove the … Continue reading

Posted in Belarus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Europe, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Photography, Poland, Slovakia, Travel, Ukraine | Tagged , , | 13 Comments

Kaunas: European Capital of Culture 2022

As with the choice for 2021, I agree with the election of the European Capital of Culture for 2022. It will be Kaunas in Lithuania. Sadly and inexplicably, during my whole year in Lithuania, I only found one day to visit … Continue reading

Posted in Europe, History, Holocaust, Lithuania, Travel | Tagged | 1 Comment

A Very Short History of Lithuania

One of the reasons behind my move to Lithuania was that it is a perfect case study of 20th century European history, with its independence between the two World Wars, then the occupation by the Soviet Union, by Nazi Germany, … Continue reading

Posted in Europe, History, Lithuania | 10 Comments

After the Rain

On my way back by bicycle from Europos Parkas to Vilnius, I first got lost (just a tiny bit) and then got caught up in the rain. By the time I had reached a patch of forest to seek shelter, … Continue reading

Posted in Lithuania, Photography, Travel | Tagged , | 13 Comments

Is this the Beginning or the End of the Journey?

(Seen and photographed in Trakai in Lithuania.)

Posted in Lithuania, Photography, Travel | Tagged | 11 Comments