Way Out West 2018
So here we are again at Way Out West. For each year I’m starting to feel more like the old men Statler and Waldorf in The Muppet Show. I’m getting older and the bands booked are getting a bit less interesting.
Posts from year 2018
Found 22 hits, currently showing 11-20.
The legacy of Bulgaria
The area of modern day Bulgaria has been a cultural crossroad since ancient times, while Sofia is the second-oldest capital in Europe after Athens. Even Constantine the Great considered making it the capital of the Byzantine Empire instead of Constantinople.
Tales of Kosovo
Kosovo. A mere mention of the name is enough to start a debate wherever you go in this part of the world. The war ended almost 20 years ago, but the scars still appear to be fresh.
Finding tranquility in Ohrid
Compared to the busy streets of Skopje, the lakeside town of Ohrid is a haven of tranquility. Even though Macedonia lacks a proper coastline, wedged in between five surrounding countries, this town still feels like a seaside resort thanks to Lake Ohrid.
Is this Macedonia?
As I crossed the border from Albania to Macedonia, I kept a careful eye on the signs. The republic of Macedonia is the country I’m aiming for, but there is also a region of adjacent Greece which claims the name Macedonia.
The bunkers of Albania
I admit to not having counted them, but there are a lot of bunker installations all over Albania. Hundreds of thousands of bunkers went up during 1975-1983, littering the landscape with concrete slabs.
Keeping the Bourdain spirit
The last days have seen a flood of lament over the passing of Anthony Bourdain. He left us two days ago and the world suddenly seemed a bit less interesting.
Summer in Bohemia
On my last visit to Prague almost a decade ago, the city was chilling with patches of snow. This time the city is lush and green, while the temperature is almost tropical.
Legacy of the masters in Florence
In the movie A Room with a View from 1985, Helena Bonham-Carter gazes from her window at Hotel degli Orafi towards Ponte Vecchio. But I would say that this is a City with a View, since almost every corner could be featured on a painting.
Impending doom of Venice
“Aah, Venice”, as old Indiana Jones used to say. Just like places as NYC and Paris, this island is forever destined to appear frequently on the big screen. With 118 islands, 150 canals and 400 bridges there are a lot of scenic locations.