The Passenger ⋆ Memories and hints of a travelling IT professional.

July 18, 2026July 18, 2026

Katlenburg

The castle of Katlenburg rises above the village on a prominent hill, and even if you just pass by on the road between Northeim and Osterode you immediately sense that this was once a genuine centre of power for the valley. The origins go back to the early 12th century, when count Dietrich III of Katlenburg transformed his fortified residence into a monastery dedicated to St. John, effectively shifting the focus from a purely military stronghold to a religious and administrative hub for the surrounding territory. Over the following centuries the foundation evolved from a collegiate establishment into an Augustinian house of canons and later a convent for women, closely tied to both the Welf rulers and the archbishop of Mainz, which gave the site considerable regional weight in both secular and ecclesiastical affairs. The gradual decline and eventual secularisation in the 16th century mirrored wider Reformation-era changes, but the castle hill remained a defining landmark for Katlenburg-Lindau and the Harz foreland.

July 17, 2026July 17, 2026

India or Italy?

Our journey did not begin in Italy, at least not in spirit. It was meant to take us far beyond Europe, across continents, towards Sri Lanka via India – a trip we had carefully planned and eagerly anticipated. Yet, as so often happens in travel, events beyond our control intervened. Air India abruptly cancelled our return flight to Europe, citing kerosene shortages and price surges linked to escalating geopolitical tensions following Donald Trump’s confrontation with Iran. The airline’s decision was shrewd: by cancelling only the return leg into the EU, they avoided compensation obligations, while effectively forcing us to abandon the entire itinerary.

July 11, 2026July 11, 2026

Three languages

Alto Adige, or South Tyrol, is a fascinating region where languages and cultures overlap in a way that feels both Alpine and distinctly Mediterranean. Three languages are officially recognised: German, Italian, and Ladin. German is by far the most widely spoken in everyday life, especially in towns and rural areas, while Italian tends to dominate in the larger cities such as Bolzano. Ladin, a Rhaeto-Romance language, survives in a few Dolomite valleys and adds another layer to the region’s cultural richness.

June 29, 2026June 30, 2026

Dreiländereck

The Dreiländerstein near Friedland, Neu-Eichenberg and Hohengandern is a striking border marker because it has stood at a point where political frontiers repeatedly shifted over time. Before the modern German states existed, this spot marked the meeting point of older territorial claims; later it separated the Electorate of Hesse, the Kingdom of Hanover and the Kingdom of Prussia, which is still reflected in the stone’s historical inscriptions. After German reunification, it once again became a symbol of three neighbouring states meeting there: Hessen, Niedersachsen and Thüringen.

June 22, 2026June 24, 2026

Roti canai

Roti canai is one of those dishes that immediately anchors you in Malaysia’s rich, layered food culture. At its core, it is a flatbread with South Indian roots, introduced through migration and adapted over generations into something distinctly Malaysian. Made from a simple dough of flour, water, eggs, and ghee or oil, it is stretched, folded, and cooked on a hot griddle until crisp on the outside and soft within. It is most commonly served with dhal, but variations include chicken or fish curry, making it suitable for breakfast, lunch, or a late-night meal.

June 20, 2026June 21, 2026

Northeimer Seenplatte

The Northeimer Seenplatte is a man-made lake district on the edge of Northeim in Niedersachsen, formed from former gravel pits and now spread across roughly 360 hectares with a dozen artificial lakes. It looks open and spacious rather than natural in the strict sense: broad stretches of water, reed-lined edges, sandy or grassy banks, and in places a distinctly recreational feel, with sailing, swimming, windsurfing and walking routes alongside quieter zones for birds and wildlife.

June 20, 2026June 20, 2026

Ducksteinquelle

The Ducksteinquelle near Moringen is a small calcareous spring in the countryside by Lutterbeck, best known as a pleasant walking spot rather than a dramatic natural spectacle. Its water is rich in lime, and as it emerges and evaporates, it leaves behind tiny mineral deposits on mosses, plant remains and the ground, gradually building a porous form of limestone known as tuff or ‘Duckstein’.

June 13, 2026June 13, 2026

Brockenaufstieg

Each June, the Brockenaufstieg turns Braunlage into a lively base camp for long-distance hikers heading up into the Harz, with the town’s central square filling before dawn with rucksacks, trekking poles and a mix of nervous energy and quiet anticipation. The atmosphere is friendly rather than competitive, more about testing stamina and sharing a long day in the hills than chasing times, and you notice quickly how mixed the field is: seasoned ultra‑walkers alongside office workers who have been training on forest tracks at weekends. Once the start bell goes and the crowd strings out towards the first climbs, Braunlage drops away behind you and the focus shifts to settling into a rhythm for many hours on your feet.

June 12, 2026June 14, 2026

Silberteich

The Silberteich near Braunlage is an artificial pond in the Harz, set on the upper course of the Brunnenbach between Braunlage and Sankt Andreasberg. It was created in the mid-18th century as part of the so-called Oberharzer Wasserregal (upper Harz water management system), mainly to provide water power for mining in the area.

June 10, 2026June 10, 2026

Muthaus

Burg Hardegsen has a long and somewhat layered history, with its origins going back to the Middle Ages. The most prominent surviving part, the Muthaus, was built in 1324 by the lords of Rosdorf and later came into the possession of duke Otto von Braunschweig–Göttingen, becoming a residence for members of the Welfen dynasty.