Red Right Hand; the Makings of Russian Borsch

Eastern Europe, diverse as it is, has a hundred variations for every dish it offers. Borsch, for example. During my time in Russia, I did not find a single menu that failed to tempt me with my favourite stew Борщ, the notorious stew most non-Slavs do not quite understand. Борщ- those four letters which translate…

Weird Science in the Secret City

During the Manhattan Project, workers were sanctioned into communities. Each had its own town square where residents at respective plants could purchase their food…because of this, Oak Ridge lacks a central downtown area, but has many clusters of interesting places instead. 

Northern Ireland and the Real Westeros

A short trip through Northern Ireland from Belfast up to the Giant’s Causeway has many attractions along the way; many that were used as filming locations for the series Game of Thrones. Not having watched it, I was still just as thrilled as the next person to visit these beautiful landmarks. I know the series’…

The Beasts of Odeonsplatz

One particularly foggy night in München required Adolf Hitler to take the train home instead of a car. It was November 1939, and an anti-Nazi activist named George Elser had planted a bomb. Hitler was giving a speech that night but it was abruptly cut short in order for him to catch the train. He left just minutes before the bomb went off.

Heidelberg, Schön War’s!

After a whirlwind week of road tripping from München to Bad Kötzting near the Czech Border, then along the Alps to Schloß Neuschwanstein, I was ready for a solo retreat to Heidelberg. Heidelberg’s official song “Ich Hab’ mein Herz in Heidelberg Verloren” translates to “I Lost my Heart in Heidelberg” and was first recorded in 1925 by Fred Raymond.…