As the boat drifted toward Spinalonga Island, I closed my eyes to embrace the warm Aegean wind. As an archaeologist, I’m used to explore ancient ruins. But visiting an island abandoned only in the late 1950’s was new … Read More
Did you know that there are more than 70 castles in Luxembourg that have survived since the Middle Ages? What if we celebrated our wedding in one of them? Kerstin looked quite surprised when she realized that I … Read More
It was shortly after 5 am. A pale rim of gold emerged above the mountain ridge. Beyond, the valley stretched out. I was standing at the window on the 18th floor of the “black pyramid” in Las Vegas. We … Read More
Standing outside of the Cambridge Visitor Information Centre, we carefully studied the paper map. King’s College, Trinity College, St John’s College… and oh look: here’s the Fitzwilliam Museum, and there the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology! Soon, we … Read More
Standing on the outer fortifications of the Castelo dos Mouros, Kerstin is holding out her hand to me. Come closer! Take my hand; you really can’t fall from here. I keep looking down at the valley of Sintra, while … Read More
I just climbed out of the shower as Kerstin almost ran me over. Oh my god, I just made a very old woman run uphill!, she exclaimed. She had been sitting on our guesthouse’s rooftop, observing the deserted Lasithi Plateau, … Read More
Do you think it was really the right decision to leave Paris? Sitting on the Quai des Tuileries, I dangle my feet and try to avoid looking into Kerstin’s eyes. A couple of Japanese tourists walk past us, then … Read More
7:30 am. The train from Mersch was slithering along the rails. Soon we would enter Luxembourg City’s railway station. But the rattling wheels lurched to a halt on the Biisserbréck (Biisser brigde). The sun was rising. From my window … Read More
Castles have always held a hypnotic power over me. Not so long ago, Mei nurtured my obsession and tracked down one of the most naturally light-colored stone castles in the world: the Lichtenstein Castle in Baden-Württemberg, Germany’s Swabian Jura. … Read More