9/11, Kosovo and Slovakia
Suzi and I were in Kosovo on 9/11, 2001. I wrote these letters in the aftermath of 9/11. I am putting them in the “Winds of Change” category because the events of 9/11, and the response, affected a change in … Continue reading 9/11, Kosovo and Slovakia
Vienna Christkindl Market
This is from a letter written in 1997. Suzi and I were living in Bratislava, Slovakia. And while it was only 65 KM (40 miles) from Bratislava to Vienna there was a real difference between former communist Slovakia and EU … Continue reading Vienna Christkindl Market
Schloss Hellbrunn Advent Market, Salzburg, Austria.
In 2012 I got to three of Salzburg’s 5 markets, the Chriskindel Market in the main square, the Mirabellplatz Christmas market and the Schloss Hellbrunn Advent Market on the grounds of a palace where the Gazebo from the movie Sound … Continue reading Schloss Hellbrunn Advent Market, Salzburg, Austria.
Maribellplatz Advent Market, Salzburg, Austria
In 2012 I got to three of Salzburg’s 5 markets on the high speed Rain Jet train from Munich. The ones I visited were the Chriskindel Market in the main square, the Mirabellplatz Christmas market and the Schloss Hellbrunn Advent … Continue reading Maribellplatz Advent Market, Salzburg, Austria
Salzburg Christkindlmarkt, Austria
In 2012 I got to three of Salzburg’s 5 markets, the Chriskindel Market in the main square, the Mirabellplatz Christmas market and the Schloss Hellbrunn Advent Market on the grounds of a palace where the Gazebo from the movie Sound … Continue reading Salzburg Christkindlmarkt, Austria
Residenz Advent Market, Munich, Germany
In November 2012 I stopped over in Munich on my way home from Tbilisi, Georgia. In Germany most Advent/Christmas markets open the Friday before the first Sunday in Advent. Austrian markets open earlier. Last year the German market opening day … Continue reading Residenz Advent Market, Munich, Germany
Munich Chriskindl Market, Germany
In November 2012 I stopped over in Munich on my way home from Tbilisi, Georgia. In Germany most Advent/Christmas markets open the Friday before the first Sunday in Advent. Austrian markets open earlier. The year before the German market opening … Continue reading Munich Chriskindl Market, Germany
London Christmas
We have had the pleasure of spending a part of two pre-Christmas seasons in London. Here are some photos, many from the market in Covent Garden To see pictures from Covent Garden, Christmas 2014, please click here. Continue reading London Christmas
Frankfurt, Germany, Chriskindl Market
St. Stephen’s Advent Market, Budapest.
The Budapest Christmas has expanded down the street. The Budapest Christmas Fair morphs into the St. Steven’s Advent Market. This paragraph is from a November 2011 family letter. The St. Steven’s Advent Market has a more commercial feel … Continue reading St. Stephen’s Advent Market, Budapest.
Obuda Advent Fair, Budapest, Hungary
Here is a paragraph from a November 2011 letter talking about the Advent Fair at Fo Square in Obuda. If Pest has a Christmas Market, folks on the other side of the river in Buda, or in this case Obuda … Continue reading Obuda Advent Fair, Budapest, Hungary
Budapest Christmas Market.
We first visited the Budapest Christmas Market in 2009. First impressions are important. Here are my first impressions from the family letter for Nov 28, 2009. The Budapest Christmas fair is supposed to be about handicrafts, but to me it … Continue reading Budapest Christmas Market.
Brussels Christmas Market
This is one of Europe’s big ones. I have visited it several times because we often visit our friends Dave and Carol Lam in Brussels on the way home from our various postings abroad. This is one of the high … Continue reading Brussels Christmas Market
Brugge, Belgium Christmas Market.
We visited Brugge, Belgium on one of our trips home for Christmas from working abroad. This one was a trip back from Armenia. To see pictures of the 2014 Brugge Christmas Market Click here. Continue reading Brugge, Belgium Christmas Market.
Bree, Belgium St. Nicholas Market.
This is from a letter I wrote in 2007. We stopped in Belgium and the Netherlands on the way home from Kosovo to visit our friends Dave and Carol Lam, who took us to Christmas Markets. In Europe the … Continue reading Bree, Belgium St. Nicholas Market.
Belgrade Holiday Market and Decorations.
Belgrade’s market is called a “New Year’s Market.” It starts later than most holiday markets and closes later. This market was about 120 steps from our flat. Continue reading Belgrade Holiday Market and Decorations.
Amsterdam, the Arrival of St. Nicholas
This is an excerpt from a 2003 family letter. Although not properly a Christmas Market, it fits here. On Sunday Sinta Klaus (St. Nicholas) arrived in Amsterdam. Saint Nicholas is really from Asia Minor (today’s Turkey.) Dutch people know this. … Continue reading Amsterdam, the Arrival of St. Nicholas
Aachen Christmas Market, Germany
Aachen was the royal city for Charlemagne and one of the first Christmas Markets we visited on one of our trips home from Slovakia. The market is in the shadow of Charlemagne’s cathedral. Continue reading Aachen Christmas Market, Germany
Valkenburg
This is from a letter I wrote in 2007. We stopped in Belgium and the Netherlands on the way home from Kosovo to visit our friends Dave and Carol Lam, who took us to Christmas Markets in Belgium and the … Continue reading Valkenburg
Ulcinj
Ulcinj is an ethnic Albanian town on the isthmus between Lake Skadar and the sea. It has a very long and fine sandy beach and a smaller beach near the citadel. Rivers running into the sea near Ulcinj have numerous fish traps. Continue reading Ulcinj
Albanian Border Lands
The border between Albania and Montenegro is a wild and beautiful place. These pictures are from the Montenegrin side, although the people are ethnic Albania. This area is north of Tuzi. Continue reading Albanian Border Lands
Sandzak
The Sandzak is a district between Montenegro and Serbia, bordering Kosovo and Bosnia. The pictures from Plevlja are in the northern Sandzak near Bosnia and Serbia. These pictures are mostly taken in the part of the Sandzak that borders Kosovo and Serbia. Continue reading Sandzak
Risan
Risan is at the head of another arm of Boka Kotor. It was the final redoubt of the Illyrian Queen Teuta. It has wonderful Roman mosaics. Risan was the site of the first IREX Kotor Jourmalism Summer School in June 1998. Continue reading Risan
Rijeka Crnojevica
Rijeka Crnojevica is a village on a river that flows into Lake Skadar. But to get to it you have to either take a winding road over a mountain from the lake, and then down again, or an equally winding road down to the valley from Centinje. The drive is worth it. Continue reading Rijeka Crnojevica