Category Archives: Spain

Facing the Firing Squad in Style

Zur deutschen Fassung. On a friend’s blog, I came across this photo, depicting Captain Carlos Fortino Sámano, facing a firing squad in 1917, during the Mexican Revolution. Please don’t ask me any details about that revolution/civil war, because it’s even … Continue reading

Posted in Andalusia, History, Mexico, Military, Peru, Photography, Spain | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

A Walk around Baza

Zur deutschen Fassung. Sometimes, I only get to a town because it’s on the way from A to B, but the distance from A to B is too long to travel in one day. Traveling from Málaga to Venta Micena, … Continue reading

Posted in Andalusia, Photography, Spain, Travel | Tagged | 4 Comments

Lost in Translation

I am not one to argue that you should only visit countries of which you speak the language. If I was, I wouldn’t have made it to 65 countries or so myself. But speaking the language does increase the experience. … Continue reading

Posted in Andalusia, Language, Spain, Travel | Tagged | 4 Comments

A Postcard from Málaga

Zur deutschen Fassung. Outside the town hall, Antonio stands with a sign, no, with several signs against high taxes and levies. Against which ones, I ask. “All of them!” I am probing further and learn that it’s about something like … Continue reading

Posted in Andalusia, Economics, Photography, Spain, Travel | Tagged , | 3 Comments

“The Impostor” by Javier Cercas

Zur deutschen Fassung. Impostors who portray their lives as more adventurous than they are don’t just exist in novels and in blogs. Some live among us. Or, when impostorism conspires with narcissism, they force their way onto the big stage. … Continue reading

Posted in Books, History, Holocaust, Spain | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Mauthausen

Zur deutschen Fassung dieses Berichts. My hosts in Linz are exceptionally gracious hosts. On the morning of the farewell, they cook, bake, puree, flambé and prepare food as if I weren’t a humble little fellow, but a horde of a … Continue reading

Posted in Austria, History, Holocaust, Photography, Spain, World War II | Tagged , | 8 Comments

Spain is already celebrating Christmas today

Zur deutschen Fassung. In many countries, a battle is raging over whether 24 or 25 December is the real Christmas. A battle between capitalists and Christians that is being waged with particular ferocity this year. Some want to die for … Continue reading

Posted in Economics, Spain | Tagged , , , | 13 Comments

But when will it be spring again?

“I want to do to you what spring does to the cherry trees,” wrote Pablo Neruda on the wall of the cathedral in Baza, defying the wrath not only of God, but also of municipal anti-graffiti enforcers. But then, if … Continue reading

Posted in Andalusia, Love, Spain | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

“Mindfulness”

I know something is a fad when I see it advertised in a really small town in Andalusia.

Posted in Andalusia, Language, Spain | Tagged | 6 Comments

Living in a Cave

When I introduced the cave houses around Venta Micena to you, I promised you a look inside. Luckily, I met Florence and Bruno, a lovely couple from France, who invited me to their cave home in Fuente Nueva. It was … Continue reading

Posted in Andalusia, Spain, Travel | Tagged | 7 Comments