Throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. -Mark Twain
Planten un Blomen. The name is low German, or Plattdeutsch, for “plants and flowers.” This beautiful botanical garden is located right in the Hamburg city center, easily reachable by public transit.
Every evening in summer around dusk, an incredible performance takes place here: the Wasserlichtspiel, or water light show.
Continue reading “Something magical happens in this botanical garden in Germany every night”
Nijmegen. This small but vibrant city, located in the eastern part of the Netherlands close to the German border, has a couple of uncommon claims to fame.
It is the oldest city in the Netherlands and is more than 2,000 years old.
It was carpet bombed during World War II, meaning relatively few buildings more than 50 years old still remain.
And it is the self-described “summer capital of Europe.”
Continue reading “Nijmegen: The Dutch city that was the summer capital of Europe”
Hey there! Long time no blog… I know, I know, I’m bad. Well, to make up for my lack of activity over the past couple of months, I’m going to write you a blog post with LOTS of pictures…
I spent Easter weekend in a rather non-traditional fashion this year: at an anarchist street festival. While Americans were out hiding eggs, Christians were going to church, normal Hamburgers were enjoying bonfires on the beach and Swedes were hanging colorful feathers on trees, the Hamburg neighborhood of Sternschanze was throwing a block party/street festival/demonstration. Continue reading “Easter with the Anarchists (and some tourist stuff too)”
We ain’t got no place to go
So let’s go to the punk rock show!
Darlin’ take me by the hand
We’re gonna see a punk rock band
There’s no use in TV shows
Radios or rodeos
I wanna get into the crowd
I wanna hear it play real loud!
-MXPX, “Punk Rawk Show”
Of all the artists and all the concert venues in the world, the American punk rock band Against Me! performed at Fonden Voxhall in Aarhus last week. As part of their European tour, this band, which is huge among rockers and punkers in the U.S., stopped by li’l ole Aarhus to play for a crowd of less than 100 people on a weekday night.
Continue reading “Punk rock shows, guerilla gardening, and musings on various types of extremism”
Last week, me and 18 other students took a “vacation” from Berlin. The trip was an optional program offered and planned by IES. We were there with two of the IES staff.
Continue reading “European Capitals Tour: Vienna, Budapest and Krakow”
Following the Wanderlust 