Hasselt “Winterland” Market is, perhaps the most commercial Christmas market we have encountered in Europe. It reminds me of the tables under the grandstand at the Minnesota State Fair. There was a collection of kitchen wares, knives, trinkets, I half … Continue reading Hasselt Winterland, 2014
The last time I was at the Brugge (Bruges) Christmas fair, in 2007, it was a short visit. It was raining and cold. The skating rink in the middle of the main town square was more slush than ice and, … Continue reading Brugge (Bruges) Christmas Market, 2014
Christmas Markets started in Central Europe, Austria and Southern Germany, and have moved up and down the Danube and spread out from that waterway across the continent. London has always had great Christmas decorations and shopping, but the European style … Continue reading Covent Garden, London, 2014
Valkenburg is perhaps the most unique, and possibly the most interesting, Christmas Market in Europe. I have been back to this market in The Netherlands three times now. The first two times with our friends Dave and Carol Lam. (The … Continue reading Valkenburg Christmas Market, 2014
These are two letters from Serbia I wrote about Thanksgiving from 2010 and 2011. 2010 (Suzi is in Egypt, I am in Belgrade, Serbia) Thanksgiving morning was the first cold, clear day of the season. Some of the lights in … Continue reading Thanksgiving in Serbia, 2010 and 2011
1995, Tirana, Albania The Rogner Hotel in Tirana had a big Thanksgiving feed this year. We took our neighbors Vera, Syri and Eda with us. They often express curiosity about this hotel, so we saw our chance. No one understands … Continue reading Thanksgiving in Albania,1995. With Bob Dylan
We have been through Lille before, many times on the train from London to Brussels, but have never seen more than the railway station. This time we went with our friend Dave Lam and his daughter Rachel to visit the … Continue reading Lille “The Most Flemish Town in France”
Hasselt is the chief town of the Belgian commune of Limburg. It is near the Dutch border and there is a similarly named province in the Netherlands. Suzi and I visited Hasselt after Carol Lam’s Funeral with Dave, and their … Continue reading Hasselt, Belgium and the Begijn Movement.
When the St. Pancras railway station opened in 1868 its wrought iron and glass train shed, designed by Henry Barlow, was the largest single structure roof in the world. It was 689 feet long, 240 feet wide and 100 feet … Continue reading St. Pancras International Railway Station
I woke up at the St. Pancras Hotel in London this morning at 5 AM with a great sense of quiet and thankfulness. Normally when I wake up early it is because of some imagined fear or excitement for the day ahead. This was different, a sense of calmness kept me awake. It had been a difficult week at the funeral of a dear friend. We had a layover in London on the way home and opted to go into town rather than stay at the airport. Last night we visited with a friend, strolled through Covent Garden, already festooned … Continue reading Thoughts on the way home.
I follow the University of Alaska Aurora Website that shows images of where the Aurora is expected in the next hour. A couple of days ago I read about a magnetic storm heading our way. I kept my eye on the … Continue reading Old Sitka, November 15, 3 AM, 24 Degrees
The Sitka Whale Fest, sponsored by the Sitka Sound Science Center, is a multidisciplinary feast. It mixes a science symposium with an arts fair, contests of ocean knowledge, music and dance performances, poetry, eating, and getting out on the water … Continue reading Sitka Whale Fest 2014
Sitka has added 83 feet to the top of its 1950s dam. This will allow us to generate 15 MW of energy. The greater the drop from the top of the lake, the more power we can generate. Note the … Continue reading Blue Lake Expansion.
The 18th Annual Whale Fest is going on right now in Sitka with science, art, food, music and whale watching. On this Saturday’s whale watch we found three groups of whales while we rocked and rolled in a storm surge. … Continue reading Whales, Rainbows and Sucker Holes, Sitka Whale Fest 2014 Whalewatch
To most Americans Guy Fawkes is the hero of the graphic comic and film “V for Vendetta,” represented by a smiling mask with upturned moustaches. But in England he is the arch traitor. In 1605 he was caught under the … Continue reading Remember, Remember ! Sitka Style
On our recent trip to New Jersey Suzi and I had to make a trip to Princeton. When I got to Princeton I realized that I was within 5 miles of the most sacred spot in Jersey. The thing I … Continue reading Martian Landing Site
I am essentially a shy person. Either that or I am too well vested in the Protestant work ethic. I generally don’t feel comfortable at a party unless I have a role. When I managed Raven Radio my role at … Continue reading Stardust Ball III (2014)
Here is the second tranche of photos from Raven Radio’s Stardust Ball. My picture is the last one on the page, in case you want to know what I look like. It is not a selfie. ( I have added … Continue reading Stardust Ball II (2014)
In Sitka the Saturday before Halloween means the Stardust Ball, a costume ball sponsored by Raven Radio. When I managed Raven we held the event in the Moose Hall, which had a great dance floor. As it grew it moved … Continue reading Stardust Ball! (2014)
Dan recruited me to help him with the Alaska Day Roller Derby bout coverage. The Sitka Sound Slayers played the Wrangell Garnet Grit Betties. I got a hand held camera and was sent to the floor to record interviews with … Continue reading Roller Derby !
Last night, for Alaska Day, the Sitka Sound Slayers Roller Derby team had a bout against Wrangell Betties. I was there as a TV cameraman for the local TV station. I enjoyed the roller derby, but what really struck me … Continue reading Aerial Silk, Alaska Day 2014
There is more to Alaska Day than the parade. Here are pictures from the Fire Hall Open House, the Transfer Re-enactment, the Coast Guard rescue swimmer demonstration, the Russian Bishop’s House Tea and some other scenes from “Our Day.” Continue reading Alaska Day 2014
Alaska Day is our day. Sitka goes all out because this is where it happened on October 18, 1867, when Alaska moved from Russia to the US, from one side of the dateline to the other, and from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar. The forecast was for high wind and lots of rain. The rain held off until after the parade and the lowering of the Russian and raising of the American flag on Castle Hill. Then it came, and let it come. Sitka loves its holiday. My day started with, I think, the best loved tradition of the … Continue reading Alaska Day Parade 2014
(*With credit to Leandra Baker for that parody of “Autumn in New York.”) Today after I got off the air it was nice so I grabbed a lunch and went to the top of Harbor Mountain. I watched the mist form over the sound and, just as I started to eat, a gentle rain began to fall. By the time I got off the mountain it was mostly sunny again with no rain. Someone posted on Facebook that Southeast Alaska didn’t have fall colors. It’s not New England or Minnesota’s St. Croix Valley but the combination of Alpine tundra … Continue reading Autumn in Southeast “Is often mingled with rain.”*