Search Results for: easily confused

Why is German reunification celebrated on 3 October?

Today, Germany celebrates the 30th anniversary of the reunification of East and West Germany on 3 October 1990. The history buffs among you will know that the Berlin Wall fell almost a year earlier, on 9 November 1989. So why … Continue reading

Posted in Cold War, Germany, History, Holocaust | Tagged , , , , | 19 Comments

The Day I Lost Everything I Owned

Zur deutschen Fassung dieser Geschichte. On my last day in Bolivia, I had bought a bus ticket from La Paz to Puno in Perú. When the bus made a stop for lunch in Copacabana and the driver said “the bus … Continue reading

Posted in Bolivia, Peru, Travel | Tagged , , | 34 Comments

Marienbad Eulogy

Zur deutschen Fassung dieses Artikels. It seems that the Corona virus will impede long-distance travel for quite a while. In that time of need, maybe we’ll finally discover what has always been so close. Writing for an international audience, it’s … Continue reading

Posted in Czech Republic, History, Music, Photography, Travel | Tagged , , | 23 Comments

Next house sitting: Kittens in Kyiv

After spending last winter in Canada, I could have been forgiven to choose a warmer place this year, like Barbados or Morocco. (Although Alice, the cat in Calgary, will remain in my heart as the loveliest and most affectionate cat … Continue reading

Posted in Travel, Ukraine | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Random Thoughts (24)

Good news: the days are getting longer. Unless you live in the Southern hemisphere, then you are doomed to darkness. And unless you live on the equator, in which case you are missing out on something fabulous. My sister asked … Continue reading

Posted in Austria, Books, Brazil, Canada, Economics, Germany, Iran, Language, Politics, Religion, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Travel, UK, USA | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The German passport is the best – and the worst – passport in the world

For world travelers, the German passport is the most useful passport: 177 countries can be visited without a visa or with only a visa on arrival. That saves money, time, effort and uncertainty. While holders of other passports are running … Continue reading

Posted in Germany, Travel | Tagged , , | 12 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 , , , , | 15 Comments

Where God takes Cash

Hier könnt Ihr diesen Artikel auf Deutsch lesen. Whenever material things, money, worldliness, become the center of our lives, they take hold of us, they possess us; we lose our very identity as human beings. Pope Francis, 29 September 2013 … Continue reading

Posted in Bolivia, Economics, Peru, Philosophy, Photography, Religion, Video Blog | Tagged , , , , | 21 Comments

How Romania got its flag

Romanians are really crazy about their flag. The blue-yellow-red banner hangs from every lamppost, in front of every building, in bakeries, doctor’s practices and in liquor stores. Because that is not enough, there is even a public holiday to celebrate … Continue reading

Posted in History, Hungary, Romania | Tagged | 13 Comments

How gay is Vladimir Putin?

Mr Putin as a construction worker: Mr Putin as a soldier: Mr Putin as a cowboy: Mr Putin as a motorbike-riding rocker: Mr Putin with a gun: Mr Putin catching birds to put together his “Red Indian” costume: Mmmhh, where … Continue reading

Posted in Music, Russia | Tagged , , | 6 Comments