Category Archives: Poland
The Gnomes of Wrocław
Wrocław is an interesting city. The only thing that’s annoying are the gnomes. You’re sitting comfortably in the park or enjoying the view of the Oder river, and suddenly one of these little rascals emerges from the undergrowth and starts making … Continue reading
Wrocław – First Impression
Only a few short years ago, when I was still young, I could easily sit on a train for 27 hours without getting off once. And shortly thereafter, I did the same again. And then for an incredible 38 hours. … Continue reading
Holiday in the Danger Zone
Zur deutschen Fassung. All day, I had been wondering about the police presence at train stations in the east of Poland. And then, while on the train, the cell phone chirped, providing the explanation. Not the welcome I would have … Continue reading
Stopover in Wrocław
I just wanted to interrupt my journey to Podlachia for a an hour or so, to stretch my legs and to grab something to eat. But when I stepped out of the train station in Wrocław, I thought: “Wow. If … Continue reading
Birthday Trip 2024 to the Center of Europe
I am still chasing after the geographical center of Europe. This time, I am going to Poland and Lithuania. The latter is the perfect destination for my birthday trip, because they celebrate Statehood Day on the same day (6 July). Continue reading
Deportation
Rather somber moment, opening the e-mail from a citizenship client, and it says: I have also attached the transportation records for my great-great-grandfather’s 1941 deportation from Hamburg to Lodz and his 1942 death record. That really puts into perspective some … Continue reading
Journey to the Center of Europe
Zur deutschen Fassung. It is July 15th, 2022. The early hours of the day are still morning-pleasantly fresh, although it will turn into a very hot day. There is even a bit of a drizzle in between. The kind of … Continue reading
One Hundred Years Ago, Germany and Russia laid the Foundation for World War II – April 1922: Rapallo
Zur deutschen Fassung. Did you ever notice that the term “discovery” is only used when a white guy first steps onto some territory, where non-white folks have been living for a long time? And that fake explorer fame is even … Continue reading
Smuggling Cigars into Poland
Zur deutschen Fassung. At the German-Polish border, there is plenty of police right now. What are they looking for, I wonder and ask. Cigarette smugglers, says the female officer, while her two male colleagues are ostentatiously of the opinion that … Continue reading
The Situation on the German-Polish Border
Zur deutschen Fassung. As you know, I consider timeliness to be overrated, which is why my report from Guben will be written sometime in the next few weeks or months. But I do not want to withhold the current dramatic … Continue reading
The Happy Hermit 