Germany

Berlin: Are there too many tourists?

Berlin has zoomed to the #3 spot for European visitors (behind London and Paris and just ahead of Rome), and some Berliners are worried it’s costing them what they like about their city…cheaper prices and less crowding than some of the other great…

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Signs of (Past) Times

Crossing the border from Basel’s suburbs into Germany might be like crossing into the Twilight Zone, to judge from these signs near the border. Five of the six cities listed are no longer in Germany.

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Finding Reiner #7: Shrapnel & Bones

    Paweł and I are back in his little red car on one-lane Polish roads behind tractors. Google Maps underestimates our driving time, and we’re going nowhere fast. Nothing fazes Paweł though, and he’s ready with cameras for any kind of…

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The Intrigue of the Orient Express

 The Orient Express! The very mention of its name brings images of eastern cities, romantic trysts, exotic costumes, shining spires and minarets—and, of course, that’s why it was given that name. It began its run from Paris to Istanbul in…

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Finding Reiner #6: Frozen Grave

” To be honest, I no longer try to calculate how things are going to turn out in this war. No one is going to escape unscathed. One must not be miserly with the little life that we have. Those who are anxious and fearful, they will be struck first….

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Finding Reiner #5: Behind the Veil of Time

Reiner’s grave in Poland used to be unmarked, but I’ve made three trips to this beautiful country to fix that one error of war. My upcoming posts will highlight the progression of my research here to learn Reiner’s fate.   In…

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Finding Reiner 4: Who Was He?

After a brief holiday, I am back to Finding Reiner. I am writing this family mystery as a travelogue ( and as a graphic book illustrated by the fabulous Maria Lebedeva whose illustrations I include here ) for two reasons. First, war stories mean…

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Finding Reiner: Taking a Break in Cologne

After spending two separate weeks in Cologne (in January and June), I’ve come to love this walkable city. I’ll take a short pause from “Finding Reiner” to give readers a taste of the town.     Accommodations: Cologne…

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Berlin: Are there too many tourists?

Berlin has zoomed to the #3 spot for European visitors (behind London and Paris and just ahead of Rome), and some Berliners are worried it’s costing them what they like about their city…cheaper prices and less crowding than some of the other great…

Read More

Signs of (Past) Times

Crossing the border from Basel’s suburbs into Germany might be like crossing into the Twilight Zone, to judge from these signs near the border. Five of the six cities listed are no longer in Germany.

Read More

Finding Reiner #7: Shrapnel & Bones

    Paweł and I are back in his little red car on one-lane Polish roads behind tractors. Google Maps underestimates our driving time, and we’re going nowhere fast. Nothing fazes Paweł though, and he’s ready with cameras for any kind of…

Read More

The Intrigue of the Orient Express

 The Orient Express! The very mention of its name brings images of eastern cities, romantic trysts, exotic costumes, shining spires and minarets—and, of course, that’s why it was given that name. It began its run from Paris to Istanbul in…

Read More

Finding Reiner #6: Frozen Grave

” To be honest, I no longer try to calculate how things are going to turn out in this war. No one is going to escape unscathed. One must not be miserly with the little life that we have. Those who are anxious and fearful, they will be struck first….

Read More

Finding Reiner #5: Behind the Veil of Time

Reiner’s grave in Poland used to be unmarked, but I’ve made three trips to this beautiful country to fix that one error of war. My upcoming posts will highlight the progression of my research here to learn Reiner’s fate.   In…

Read More

Finding Reiner 4: Who Was He?

After a brief holiday, I am back to Finding Reiner. I am writing this family mystery as a travelogue ( and as a graphic book illustrated by the fabulous Maria Lebedeva whose illustrations I include here ) for two reasons. First, war stories mean…

Read More

Finding Reiner: Taking a Break in Cologne

After spending two separate weeks in Cologne (in January and June), I’ve come to love this walkable city. I’ll take a short pause from “Finding Reiner” to give readers a taste of the town.     Accommodations: Cologne…

Read More