Tag Archives: smoking

The Smoking Snakes

Zur deutschen Fassung dieses Artikels. These days, eurocentric Europeans are celebrating the end of World War II, although in Asia, that show didn’t get cancelled until a few months later. The surviving US-American, British, French, Belgian, New Zealand, Australian, Indian, … Continue reading

Posted in Brazil, History, Italy, Military, Politics, World War II | Tagged | 34 Comments

At the Cigar Shop – 50 Years later

I had gone to Huéscar for market day, thinking I might as well look for my favorite Spanish newspaper, El Pais. It would find it at the tobacco shop, I was told. As I entered the store, just around the … Continue reading

Posted in Andalusia, Cinema, Music, Photography, Spain, Travel, Video Blog | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Random Thoughts (22)

In 2017, I seem to have been a bit lazy. I did not run a single half-marathon. But with the risk of war rising, I want to become fitter again. Last weekend, I began by running a half-marathon near Pilsen … Continue reading

Posted in Bolivia, Books, Czech Republic, Germany, India, Sports, Travel, UK | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Video: A Chapel in the Mountains

Hiking in Montenegro, there is always something to discover, even deep in the mountains. But more often than not, the places have long been deserted. Did you notice how perfectly I synchronized the music to the action? On my first … Continue reading

Posted in Montenegro, Music, Photography, Travel, Video Blog | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Random Thoughts (19)

But what will become of James Bond if we don’t tolerate sexual harassment anymore? Trying to cash in on crypto-currencies, I have now invested all my savings in Paypal. I always find it strange when people say “I am writing … Continue reading

Posted in Austria, Economics, Israel, Language, Montenegro, Politics, Romania | Tagged , , , , , , | 70 Comments

Random Thoughts (11)

Mohammad Mostafaei, the lawyer with whom I was arrested in Iran, has written a book. He says I am in it too, but I can’t read Norwegian, so I have to wait for a translation. Does anyone still remember José Echegaray … Continue reading

Posted in Books, France, History, Human Rights, Iran, Language, Law, Mexico, Military, Politics, Sports, Travel, World War II | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Video: Take a break!

After hiking up and down Cerro San Luis (4,267 m) in Cajas National Park in Ecuador, I had to cross this river. Because they had run out of printed maps, the ranger had told me that if I kept walking … Continue reading

Posted in Ecuador, Photography, Travel, Video Blog | Tagged , | 3 Comments

A Humidor for the Poor

Among us connoisseurs: a fridge is just as good. I learnt this from the store in Cochabamba where I regularly bought cheap (probably because they weren’t quite authentic) Cohibas. They stored the box with cigars on top of the beer … Continue reading

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Book Review: “Golden Holocaust” by Robert Proctor

This will be a short book review because Robert Proctor’s book about the dangers of tobacco, smoking and cigarettes can be dismissed outright after reading the title and the introduction. Although I occasionally smoke cigars, I know it’s neither healthy … Continue reading

Posted in Books, History, Holocaust, Language | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

Video: Cowboy Idyll

My arms were weak from hours of rowing the small boat. The horses had spotted the secluded bay with lush meadows. So I went ashore on Isla del Sol for a break. Because the bay was surrounded by steep and scraggy … Continue reading

Posted in Bolivia, Photography, Travel, Video Blog | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments