In Which I Learn About the Hanseatic League

As the door to the small regional jet swung open, the flight attendant announced that we may wish to consider wearing jackets, because it was raining outside. One of the other passengers joked ruefully that, “It’s raining in Norway,” his intonation clearly implying that it frequently rains here. Outside the walls of the airport I […]

Remembering Another Time

Greetings my friends, Fall is here and the great season of staying-home (AKA Summer) is in the rearview mirror. With school back in session, students and families are no longer traveling as much, which means tourist destinations are emptying out and your courageous blogger can be on his way again. But still I’m thinking of […]

Sometimes The Ridiculous Is What We Need

Sometimes its the unexpected that sticks with you after a trip. I’m four months late in writing this entry for April 12, and my most remarkable memory from the day is the truly ridiculous Museum of Hangovers. The morning started elsewhere, however, back in the farmers market. I was hoping it would be busier today, […]

In Which I Schedule Poorly

I know what I was thinking when I made my plans for today, but I still can’t help but wonder “what was I thinking?” I needed to travel back from Split to Zagreb, and I decided flying would be the best choice. There were 4 flights to choose from. The early AM flight was out […]

Cemeteries Are Meant For The Living

I stepped into the Old Jewish Cemetery next to the cafe and immediately the air seemed to grow heavier, the shadows deeper, the temperature cooler, and the grass longer. I walked slowly up the path into the dense shade and noted the numerous small stones placed on the gravemarkers, indicating that the deceased was honored […]

The Croatian Language Is Missing Vowels

Sometimes neurons that I haven’t used for over 30 years start to fire off, and the memories they harbor trickle back in. This began a few weeks ago, with just a low frequency hum. The more I read in preparation for the trip, the more it grew, and then last night the excitement on arrival […]