There’s a Japanese saying that goes like this: “A wise man climbs Mt. Fuji once. Only a fool climbs it twice.” There’s a reason people say that and I got to find out why. I did not really believe René and Vassili the first time they told me we were going to climb Mount Fuji.Sigue leyendo «Of Mount Fuji, the Bamboo Princess, and the time I didn’t train to climb a mountain»
Archivo de categoría: Travel
Literary St. Petersburg: Nevsky Prospect
A walk through St. Petersburg’s most famous avenue: Nevsky Prospect.
St. Petersburg: Museum City
Город Музей Город Музей, or «gorod muzei» for those who, like me, do not read Russian, museum city, is how some people refer to the city of St. Petersburg. With over 100 museums, one ought to stay there for at least a few months to see every one of them. With only one week and manySigue leyendo «St. Petersburg: Museum City»
Saint Petersburg in January
«You’re going to Russia in January? Why? It’s so cold!» Those were usually the first words that my friends and family when I told them the news. In July 2017, after coming from work one day, I received a call from my good friend Miriam. She had had a rather frustrating day and in herSigue leyendo «Saint Petersburg in January»
Mexico City: Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo Studio House Museum
So a friend and I decided to go to the Diego Rivera & Frida Kahlo Studio House Museum in the beautiful neighborhood of San Ángel, located in southern Mexico City. Two cousins of mine who live near there joined us in our visit to the Studio. Address: Altavista Avenue, esquina Diego Rivera Colonia San ÁngelSigue leyendo «Mexico City: Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo Studio House Museum»
Madrid, Cervantes, and Musical Theater in Mexico City
Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (1547-1616) is probably the most important Spanish writer in the history of literature. He played such an important role in shaping Spanish literary culture, that echoes of him can be heard in our common sayings, in contemporary pieces of literature, in theater, movies and TV, and in other kinds of media. In short: prettySigue leyendo «Madrid, Cervantes, and Musical Theater in Mexico City»
Thoughts from a Spanish Bus
The trip from Madrid to Bilbao started at four in the afternoon and wasn’t over until I was at the Airb&b apartment at ten at night. I had flown from Hamburg at eight o’clock in the morning, so I was pretty tired by the time I sat on the bus that would take me to the BasqueSigue leyendo «Thoughts from a Spanish Bus»
Next Stop: Spain
I have never been to Spain. In fact, going to Spain was not in my short- and even medium-term plans. Not that I have anything against the land of Cervantes, Picasso, El Cid and paella. It’s just that, going there simply hadn’t really crossed my mind. “The whole world is a bigger Bilbao.” Miguel de Unamuno, tranlsation mine.Sigue leyendo «Next Stop: Spain»
Belgium: Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate
Belgium is famous for its chocolate tradition, which dates back to the 17th Century. Of course, they import their cocoa beans, but chocolates are a big, big part of their culture and economy, and the quality standards for chocolate production are higher than in the rest of Europe. In Belgium there’s a chocolate shop in every corner,Sigue leyendo «Belgium: Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate»
Bélgica: de libros y monumentos
Bruselas El último día en Bruselas desayunamos en Le Pain Quotidien, un restaurante-panadería fundado en Bruselas en 1990 por Alain Coumont, un chef que, al no encontrar el pan adecuado para su restaurante, decidió hacer el suyo en un pequeño local en la 16 rue Dansaert. Hoy en día, es una cadena internacional. Nosotras fuimos al que está dentroSigue leyendo «Bélgica: de libros y monumentos»