Vignettes of the World
My Travel Journal
Just as I wondered about the Albert Einstein Haus, its sign came into view. Up the stairs I walked into the apartment area, where Albert Einstein once lived. Then came a very unfriendly voice, “it’s not free!” I then paid 6 CHF, though not without …
The day was overcast. This characteristic burnt green, the signature color of the archaic buildings in the Altstadt (Old Town) of Bern, somehow matched this unfortunate gloom of the weather well. I meant this as a praise. After exiting the SBB station with no idea …
What’s better than writing on my journal at Ouchy under a warm afternoon sun, looking ahead at the French Alps? At the Place de Riponne I found the way to Ouchy by metro. 10 minutes later, it took me to the lakeside of Lake Geneva. …
I arrived at the Chauderon station this morning. Not far ahead stood the eye-catching Rolex building on the block. I remembered it from yesterday and knew that there would be a bit of walk to the Vieille Ville, the Old City of Lausanne. Soon I …
The Lausanne Cathedral stands at the highest point of Lausanne’s Old Town. Overlooking the City of Lausanne, the Cathedral enables a view of the Lake and the Alps afar as well. Its long history furthermore provides a vantage point of spiritual and cultural significance. The …
24 hours later, I arrived in Geneva. Despite it being the hub of international and diplomatic missions, the Geneva airport was down to earth, or perhaps too primitive for the cosmopolitan reputation of the city. There were two lines at the Geneva airport. One for …
A lesson in Australia’s history would not be complete without the history of Port Arthur. It began in the 1880s as a penal colony. Then lieutenant governor of Van Diemen’s Land, George Arthur, established Port Arthur as a settlement for the most incorrigible, repeated offenders …
Generous sunshine blessed our last day in Tasmania. We were on our way to Port Arthur. However, we detoured and stopped by a number of interesting natural sites. The Tasman Arch The Tasman Arch began as a small sea cave. Constant sea waves formed …
In our last full day in Tasmania, we visited the Wineglass Bay lookout. Note, though, that we did not visit the beach. The tour guide told us that the hike down the beach was very rigorous, going more than two to three hours each way. …
The Jackman McRoss was a local bakery just a stone’s throw away from the Montacute. We decided to get our breakfast there, since all tourist sources recommended it. It clearly was a local favorite. We felt the energy of the place as soon as we …