Month: March 2013

PolandLeave a comment

Warsaw, Poland, March, 2013

Rich McClear

A week ago we woke up on a Saturday morning in Warsaw.  It was 2 degrees Fahrenheit (-16 Celsius) with a minus 15 F wind chill.  It was time to get ready for our Warsaw tour, which included a walking tour of the old town.  It was cold but we went. We arrived on Friday on the Berlin-Warsaw express.  Warsaw Central station does not have well marked exits, so instead of getting out onto the street we ended up exiting into a large and modern shopping mall with an undulating glass roof.  I finally found my way out of the … Continue reading Warsaw, Poland, March, 2013

GermanyLeave a comment

Reichstag, Berlin, 2013

Rich McClear

To visit the German Bundestag housed in the Reichstag building you need an invitation.  We applied, sending our passport information and addresses, on line.  I got our PDF invitation letter just before we left for Warsaw.  Our appointment was 9:30 Monday evening.  We got off our train grabbed a cab, dropped our stuff at the hotel and went on to the Reichstag.  The building was burned as Hitler came to power.  Hitler blamed it on the Communists.  Others blame it on Hitler as an excuse to grab more power.  The building was largely unused just on the western side of … Continue reading Reichstag, Berlin, 2013

GermanyLeave a comment

Rundfunks Berlin

Rich McClear

March, 21, 2013 This week Suzi and I attended Radio Days Europe and got to tour some different radio stations. A highlight of the sessions was the tour of Haus des Rundfunks, or Radio House.  The Funkhaus was designed in 1929 in the Bauhaus style and went on-air in 1931.  It claims to be the oldest purpose built radio station building in the world.  The Funkhaus is the home of Radio Berlin and Brandenburg (RBB), which operates 6 radio services.  While it was built as a national headquarters, right now it serves Berlin’s local public radio. The building is a … Continue reading Rundfunks Berlin

GeorgiaLeave a comment

Tbilisi, Georgia, March 16, 2013

Rich McClear

The last time I was in Tbilisi, in November, I watched the progression of autumn as trees turned, leaves fell and the winds grew cold.  I am watching the reverse this March.  I snowed on and off the first week I was here and I could see snow sticking on the hills above Tbilisi.  The weather has turned, it is in the 60s, sunny and the green lace and blossoms are beginning to appear on those same trees. I had a cold much of the first week so I went to work went home and didn’t have many adventures.  I’m … Continue reading Tbilisi, Georgia, March 16, 2013

GeorgiaLeave a comment

Gudauri Ski Area, Georgia.

Rich McClear

Friday was a holiday in Georgia, International Women’s Day.  The Georgian Institute of Public Affairs, GIPA the University where I’m doing some work, takes the holiday for a ski excursion to Gudauri.  ( გუდაური in the Georgian alphabet, the word looks beautiful, I hope your computer can decipher it.)  The busses gathered at 8 AM at the Radisson Hotel on Rose Revolution Square, on the other end of Rustaveli Street from where I am staying on Freedom Square.  I was not sure how long a walk it would be.  I’ve walked it many times but never without interruption.  Rustaveli Street … Continue reading Gudauri Ski Area, Georgia.

GeorgiaLeave a comment

Georgian Military Road

Rich McClear

The Georgian Military Road, an ancient trade route over the Greater Caucasus Mountains.  Pliny wrote of it.  In 1799 Russian Tsar Alexander I ordered the road paved and the rivers bridged as the Russian Empire annexed Georgia and moved further into Armenia.  The road was “completed” (If such a road is ever completed) in 1817.  It is one of the highest paved highways in Europe.  There are watchtowers along the route as it travels river valleys and switchbacks up mountain sides.   The road passes the Zhinvali River Dam and we had one cigarette break the Ananuri Fortress-Monastery which was a … Continue reading Georgian Military Road

Georgia, GermanyLeave a comment

Travel from Sitka to Tbilisi.

Rich McClear

March 3, 2013,  Tbilisi, Georgia Historically travel has always been arduous.  But for a brief period, for a certain social class, travel was glamorous.  “Getting there is half the fun” Cunard crowed in mid-century ads.  Flying, jet setting had a certain cache.  Super Graphics from the airports in early 70’s had fashionable young people in shades and Italian designer cloths smiling as they walked to planes.  Today, at SeaTac there is the graphic of a cartoon character, sweating, lugging a suitcase, looking completely harried.  It’s an honest, and funny, presentation of flying today and brought more than a few chuckles.  … Continue reading Travel from Sitka to Tbilisi.