Memories Hey, I loved Prague - If I had know you were going there I would have given you a few tips. One of them being attend the concerts - especially in the concert hall - even the churches open their doors and have concerts in the evenings.
Budapest is lovely - find the caves on the side that does not have the castle - they are a fun silly thing to do. Take a dip in the hot springs (much better and nicer than aguas calientes.
Thanks I really appreciate you giving me a second look. The last thing I wanted to do is reduce German history to a 12 year period. History requires a broad view, over space and time.
Hopefully, I will have a chance to visit Munich someday, to explore all its history.
Thanks for you comments!
Černý If you're still around and can stand going back to Holešovice, one of Černý's best works (imo) is the Entropy.EU installment at the DOX gallery there. The rest of the exhibitions are also rather interesting, definitely worth a visit. Really enjoyed reading your blogs!
It´s just difficult I fully understand and accept your thoughts and reactions, I´m used to it and felt similar after I visited KZ Sachsenhausen. I´m just bored if not angry about the typical reactions of tourists who´re on the dark history tour in Germany (me being from Munich, a city with 850 years of history constantly reduced to its 12 years Nazi era), repeating the well-known phrases ("how could this happen", let this never happen again") without really meaning it. There so much more to know about the past, and no one really cares. Visit a KZ, be horrified, blame the Germans, eat pizza and go to the next city, and live in a world that hasn´t changed a bit from the past.
Unfortunately you´re the wrong person I address this to, because you show great interest in German history in your blogs, which are a real pleasure to read.
Thanks for your understanding.
Awww, shucks! Hey James, I miss ya already! That was a nice ending blog to an incredible four weeks. I know we'll keep in touch... where else am I gonna stay when in D.C.? (When Sarah doesn't answer her door...) Prague is interesting thus far, but it's not the same without the gang. See you soon! --T
Hurray Congrats on a summer well-spent. I've enjoyed keeping track of you on this. And am slightly jealous. Travel safe and have fun as you head out across Europe! We miss you back here in DC>
response Gunter. If you read the actual entry, you will see that I am not trying to judge Germans (particularly those today), but attempting to understand the past on its own terms. I am a history teacher; that's my job. I fully agree that people have not done much about the atrocities occuring today. But my aim was simply to reflect of my own experience visiting Sachsenhausen.
How did they bla bla bla Most of the Germans knew of the concentration/prisoner camps, and did nothing against it due to many reasons (living under dictatorship; fear of being arrested, tortured and killed if going into resistance; ignorance, opportunism, whatever).
We knew of what happened in Cambodia, at Srebrenica, in Ruanda, what happens know in Sri Lanka and Israel: genocide. And what did we and are we doing against it (not living under dictatorship like Nazi Germany, but in so called free countries with internet and free information for everyone): NOTHING!!!
So let´s all stop complaining about what happened in the past and what not, and begin learning the lessons of the past and use them for our presend and future.
We don´t have the right to judge Germans or whatever people for their acts of the past without fully understanding the time and circumstances they lived in.
How did they not know? Mat, I never received the message you refer to. As to your comment on the photo from Sachenhausen, the point was not that THAT specific house was around during the time of the Nazi regime, but that the camp had been built right next to town (which it was). Moreover, in the 1950s, the camp was being used as Soviet "special camp" for political prisoners.
Pickled Pork Knuckles... ''Pickled pork knuckles... Is it like kim chi????'' Ha, ha-- that was great... minus the major pain afterwards of eating too much... Ciao!
How did they not know!! Well you seem to have deleted one of my comments about your observations about Germany. Here is an other one: you posted one picture showing a white house suposedly close to the concentration camp. You titled it "How did they not know?" Well this comment attached to this house makes little sense because the house shown on your photo is build in the 1950s bulding style. Hence the house wasnt even standing there during the Nazi reign from 1933-1945!
changes without me Hi James,
Sheena has forwarded your blog to me. I don´t know if ou remember me, the German exchange student from Hannover/Germany - and still best-friend of Sheena Weller/Groat. It´s interesting to read your experiences, especially when you say that your guide was aged 14 when the wall came down. In case you remember, I was at DeKalb when that historical event happenend, far away form my friends and family who were more or less part of it. I was invited to German and History classes then to tell everyone what was going on Germany but the event was too far away for most of the kids at school to understand- not very many were able to locate Germany on the map. So I had to visit Berlin and the former DDR to take impressions in and understand more of the circumstances involved, as I wasn´t there at that time (weired!).
I enjoy your pictures (and the comments) of daring (?) artists (title:"instructions?") and everyday situations.
Maybe Sheena has told you that she is going to visit me from July 22-31. Are you nearby then? Travellers are always welcome in our appartment :-)
Best Greetings, Susanna
Great photos! "White trash fast food" - how does that become a good idea for a restaurant name?! And Who Killed Bambi? Who Let The Dogs Out?... All Hilarious! Berlin's great : )
how jealous!! hola,
well i am just so jealous, i love berlin, there is just so much to see and do, and frankly never enough time.
i definitely need to get back there soon, not been in 5 years, everytime i go it has always changed so dramatically.
speak soon,
besos,
nick x
I blame Thor Heyerdahl for my wanderlust. When I picked up his tale of the Kon-Tiki adventure in third grade, I knew I wanted to explore the world beyond the rural Midwest. Since then, I have had the opportunity to travel extensively, even living abroad for extended periods. And I continue to venture forth whenever I can.
... full info
Ashley
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Memories
Hey, I loved Prague - If I had know you were going there I would have given you a few tips. One of them being attend the concerts - especially in the concert hall - even the churches open their doors and have concerts in the evenings. Budapest is lovely - find the caves on the side that does not have the castle - they are a fun silly thing to do. Take a dip in the hot springs (much better and nicer than aguas calientes.