A couple of years after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Visiting the former East Germany. Satellite dishes are decorating nearly every balcony or window of every building. A bizarre sight on the gray concrete blocks serving as residential housing. In some areas they were quick to adapt to the western way of life. In others not so much. Apparently funding for the restoration of the road network didn't have the highest of priorities. Autobahn in former Eastern Germany did not quite measure up to it’s Western German equivalent. Built on initiative of the nazis for speedy transports of the troops. Solid and reliable, but hopelessly outdated on some stretches. The one between Rostock and Berlin was one of these bumpier parts. Bump, bump, bump. Every 50 or so feet, a bump. The bus ride would ... read more

Hungary was one of the first Eastern European countries to break free from the Soviet communist administration. The openness factor in addition to a wide variety of sights, a fascinating history, and a comparatively cheap (although it probably caught up pricewise since then...) market helped getting the attention from Germans, Scandinavians, Austrians, Americans, and other tourists who were bored with the regular sites in Western Europe, or maybe those who were interested in really getting their money worth during the vacation. Budapest is the obvious magnet with all that a large and old European city has to offer in sights and history. Another, not as obvious, destination is Lake Balaton. One of the largest lakes in Central Europe, very shallow making the water very warm, and beautifully located inbetween hills and mountains, the stage is set ... read more

There's not much to see. A church, seemingly similar to any other church. A garden, not much unlike other gardens. However, this place has a slight edge over its colleagues. It's the alleged birth site of Jesus. Might as well be. If so, one of the most important historical locations on the planet. Should be treated with due respect. Nowadays it is not. It is a war-zone. Kind of kills the myth that wars are about religion, does it not? Religion might be the excuse for the people to fight. However, the conflict is about everything but religion; principles, money, greed, power, pride, differences in logical reasoning, culture, language, you name it. And my least favorite: pure stupidity. End it with a poker game, coin toss, camel race, dwarf hunt, whatever. Let the rest of us ... read more

The Rock of the Middle East. 2000 or so years ago a group of people fled to the desert rock of Masada, to get away from the Romans. The Roman emperor who built it as his leisure time palace made sure the supplies were filled in the event of an attack, and the little group managed to hold out for quite a while. Eventually the outcome was inevitable, and when the Romans finally managed to conquer the place, they found only dead bodies, all of them with the throat cut open. This is history in its true meaning. Some people make the trail all the way up there by foot, just like they had to do 2000 years ago. The cable car ride up there is magnificent. At the time when the palace was in use ... read more