Tag Archives: Soviet Union

Uman: Communism or Cheesy Story?

Posted on 2020-01-17 by

There is really no reason to visit Uman. It is a small city like hundreds of others in Ukraine. But because it lies halfway between Kyiv and Odessa, I decided to break the journey and to spend a day and … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Photography, Travel, Ukraine | Tagged , , | 15 Comments

Kyiv – Day 19/21 – Communism and Capitalism

Posted on 2020-01-03 by

Capitalism’s triumph over communism most certainly wasn’t due to aesthetics. Links: More about Ukraine. More about economics, some of it more profound than merely a photo. Zur deutschen Fassung dieses Blogs.

Posted in Economics, Photography, Travel, Ukraine | Tagged , | 9 Comments

Our Prisoner of War

Posted on 2019-11-29 by

Recently, I stayed with my father in Bavaria, where life is informal and one can put the feet on the table and smoke inside the house. We were both preoccupied with reading, my father with the newspaper and me with … Continue reading →

Posted in Germany, History, Military, Russia, Travel, World War II | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Film review: “Blue Mountains”

Posted on 2019-11-11 by

Maybe you have to be as old and wise as me to realize it, but movies made in the last century are really better than today’s animation/superhero/sequel/prequel crap. Actually, the difference is so stark that even Soviet films from the … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Films, Georgia | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

An unexpected find

Posted on 2019-03-01 by

I am trying to get rid of most stuff and have been quite successful already. I have no car, only one hat, and I am even letting go of books. But one thing is piling up: notebooks, full of memories, … Continue reading →

Posted in Georgia, Travel | Tagged , , | 12 Comments

A Walk around Tbilisi

Posted on 2019-02-22 by

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 former president of Azerbaijan). The … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Georgia, History, Islam, Military, Photography, Religion, Travel, World War II | Tagged , , , | 51 Comments

Random Thoughts (12)

Posted on 2017-04-27 by

If you have doubts about humanity, listen to this podcast about a hospital in Israel treating wounded and sick Syrians. I wouldn’t have thought that many people read articles as long as the one about my decision to return to … Continue reading →

Posted in Albania, Cold War, Education, Films, Health, History, Israel, Military, Syria, USA | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments