A tribute to Couchsurfing.org
It’s time to look back on our trip (apart from also looking forward…) and time to write this post that has been in my head for a while now.By now our regular readers should have heard of Couchsurfing. To cite their website: “CouchSurfing is a worldwide network for making connections between travelers and the local […]
Read MoreLe BrésilRiche et PauvreBlanc et NoirCeux qui ont de l’argent doivent s’enfermer derrière des murs et des grilles, faire garder leurs maisons par des gardiens.Les employées de maison – Noires, les patrons – Blancs.Les employées de maison sont priées d’utiliser la porte latérale.Le Pauvre montre un couteau et demande de l’argent, alors le Riche a […]
Read MoreProblem solving – Brazilian way
Rio de Janeiro still has a tram – a very old one, called Bonde, that goes to the historic district of Santa Teresa. It’s mostly used by tourists but we took it anyway. It rides up the steep hills, around curves, and has to stop from time to time and the driver has to step […]
Read MoreLiterary Travel Companions
This is what I’ve been reading during the trip (in reverse order), and what I thought about it. 18. East of Eden (John Steinbeck). Another great American classic, read with gread pleasure in the trains that carried us through Texas and then up north through the snow. 17. To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee). For […]
Read MoreConverted to Catholicism?
Yesterday we arrived in São João del Rey, a town with a nice old centre and lots of nice baroque churches. As the afternoon was spent with getting a haircut (Miguel), going on-line (Miguel) and sleeping (me), we only walked around town in the evening when most churches were closed.But in the evening, after the […]
Read MoreThe Washington Post, February 5th 2010, Movie Reviews
The Last StationContains a scene of sexuality and nudity. From Paris with LoveContains nearly constant violence, pervasive obscenity, drug use and brief sexuality. Fish TankContains profanity, smoking, teen drinking and some sexuality. Alvin and the Chipmunks: the squeakquelContains mild crude humor and slapstick violence. Broken EmbracesContains sexual content, language and drug material. CreationContains intense thematic […]
Read MoreA story
“You should choose the braised beef ribs. You can share it. Mashed or baked potato? And have the house vegetables with it. Very good choice. You’ll have a coffee? You got it.Where are you from? I’m from Germany. My family is from Stettin, but that’s now Poland. After the war they went to Eastern Germany, […]
Read MoreThe Law
“We’re not allowed to do it” – “That’s the law” – “You cannot be here”Phrases I’m getting so tired of, because we hear them all the time in the US. Isn’t this a “free” country?…. We took a train in the evening for a trip that would last about 24 hours. Sleeping cars are very […]
Read MoreUSA experiences…
Black woman in NY subway wearing a hat with the inscription: “God is my Boss”.Three black men singing gospels in a NY underpass.Lots of people walking their dogs in the streets (the dogs are the new children).The Chicago wind – so icy that it’s painful.Families going out for Sunday lunch in a hamburger restaurant in […]
Read MoreIn the streets of Chicago, Boston, New York….
… there’s a Swiss-Portuguese couple desperately looking for a nice cafe, selling coffee in real cups instead of paper or styrofoam cups…. Americans are obsessed with organic, whole-food, vegetarian, vegan, non-dairy, non-fat, and generally good-for-your-health food…. but it usually comes in plastic plates and paper cups and you eat it with disposable forks…. all this […]
Read More