Category Archives: Uncategorized

Poland “Turon gave birth to me, Krakow polished me with the arts.” Copernicus Many see Krakow as Poland’s preferred destination:  an engaging, traditional city pulsating with history, charming vistas, tourists, and college students. In the late 10th and early 11th … Continue reading →

The Czech Republic “Prague doesn’t let go. Either of us. This old crone has claws. One has to yield or else.” Franz Kafka,1902. “A jewel in the heart of Europe” is how some people describe Prague, others say it is … Continue reading →

Hungary  “If you come from Paris to Budapest you think you are in Moscow. But if you go from Moscow to Budapest you think you are in Paris.” György Ligeti 1987 As I noted in the Vienna blog, four world … Continue reading →

Austria “The streets of Vienna are paved with culture, the streets of other cities with asphalt.” Karl Kraus (1874-1936)   Once the frontier of the Roman Empire, today Vienna is celebrated as a city rich in historical, musical and artistic … Continue reading →

When I returned to Dubai, I was struck by the luxuriant greenery:  lawns, flower beds and well-tended palm trees, all irrigated by Gulf water, run through desalination plants.  This sight reminded me once again how far the people of Dubai … Continue reading →

“Acquire knowledge. It enables its possessor to know right from wrong; it lights the way to heaven; it is our friend in the desert, our society in solitude, our companion when friendless; it guides us to happiness; it sustains us … Continue reading →