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Search Results for: one hundred years ago
“Persepolis” by Marjane Satrapi
I had long been too snobbish to read graphic novels. Cartoons like Tintin or Calvin & Hobbes are great, but when it comes to serious subjects, I prefer prose. Also, I read a lot on trains or in restaurants and … Continue reading
A Walk around Tbilisi
Zur deutschen Fassung dieses Artikels. Each year for my birthday, I like to explore a new country, preferably alone. In July 2017, I treated myself to a trip to the Caucasus (and ended up celebrating my 42nd birthday with the … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Georgia, History, Islam, Military, Photography, Religion, Travel, World War II
Tagged christianity, Jews, Soviet Union, Tbilisi
52 Comments
Testing a Client’s Sense of Humor
Five years ago, an American lady contacted me about applying for German citizenship. She fell into that group of people who could qualify without living in Germany, but she would need to pass the German language test at a high … Continue reading
27 Hours on the Train and not a Minute of Boredom
In red neon letters on top of a monumental building, the name “Pacific Central” shines through the night, which is receding rather late and slowly. Walking through the park in front of the station building, I carry my heavy bags, … Continue reading
Posted in Canada, Photography, Travel, Video Blog
Tagged Edmonton, mountains, train, Vancouver
25 Comments
Discovering Azerbaijan with Heydar Aliyev
Before I went to Azerbaijan, I was like you: I didn’t know Heydar Aliyev. But then, I had already gotten sick and tired of him by the second day. Let me share this experience with you, so that you will … Continue reading
Why I will return to Europe
Originally, I had planned to spend several years in Latin America to take the time to explore every country from Argentina to Mexico. As an advocate for constant change, I have however scrapped this plan and I will return to … Continue reading
Posted in Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Easter Island, Ecuador, Europe, Life, Mexico, Peru, Photography, Religion, Travel, Venezuela
Tagged christianity, Health
69 Comments
How to do Adventure – a Guide in 24 Steps
From my current base in La Paz in Bolivia, I wanted to climb Chacaltaya. It seemed like a relatively easy mountain above 5000 m, and thus a good opportunity to set a new altitude record without falling into crevasses and battling with yetis. In … Continue reading
Posted in Bolivia, Life, Philosophy, Photography, Time, Travel
Tagged adventure, Chacaltaya, climate change, Health, hiking, hitchhiking, La Paz, Milluni, mountains, nature, refugees
39 Comments
A Walk around Iași
I only spent one day in Iași in the far east of Romania, which is the far east of Europe for most of my readers anyway, when I was on the way back from Moldova, even further east. But fear not, … Continue reading
Posted in Cinema, History, Holocaust, Language, Photography, Religion, Romania, Travel
Tagged anti-semitism, christianity, Iasi, Jews, Roma
15 Comments
Bernie Sanders would have won? Bullshit.
Of course it didn’t take long for some of Bernie Sander’s supporters to exclaim with certainty that their candidate would have „easily/certainly/absolutely“ won against Donald Trump. That is not only an easy thing to say because it can never be … Continue reading
First thoughts on the election of Donald Trump
As has become customary on election nights, I have been twittering my initial thoughts all night. Here is a selection of those tweets and some additional comments. Saddest picture of this election so far: people in line staring at their … Continue reading
The Happy Hermit 