Memories and hints of a travelling IT professional.
The massacre of Srebrenica in July 1995 stands as one of the darkest chapters in recent European history. It has been recognised as a genocide, carried out with the explicit aim of ethnic cleansing in eastern Bosnia. What unfolded in and around this small town was not a chaotic by-product of war, but a systematic and organised effort to eliminate the Bosniak population from the region.
Continue reading “Srebrenica”
The Holiday Inn (now Hotel Holiday) in Sarajevo is one of the city’s most recognisable modern landmarks, originally built in the early 1980s as part of the preparations for the 1984 Winter Olympics. Designed by Sarajevo architect Ivan Štraus, it was intended to project a fresh, international image for the city and quickly became a symbol of that Olympic era.
Continue reading “Holiday Inn”
Perched high above the village of Üssinghausen, the Sohnreywarte – also known locally as the Sohnrey-Hütte – is a modest observation shelter rather than a grand tower. It sits on elevated ground at the edge of the Solling landscape, offering wide views over wooded hills and open countryside. The structure itself is simple and functional, stone-built with a covered seating area that invites walkers and hikers to pause. It was created in 1931 as a place of remembrance and quiet reflection, intended to honour Heinrich Sohnrey while also encouraging appreciation of the rural landscape he so often wrote about.
Continue reading “Sohnreywarte”
Tucked away in the wooded hills near Uslar, the Bergsee at Delliehausen is one of those quietly atmospheric places that feels far removed from modern life. At first glance, it appears to be a natural mountain lake, its dark, still waters framed by dense forest and steep slopes. In reality, however, it is a relic of the region’s industrial past, shaped by human activity rather than nature alone.
Continue reading “Bergsee”
Erlangen is one of those understated Bavarian towns that quietly rewards a curious traveller. Its history is closely tied to the Huguenots, French Protestants who fled religious persecution in the late 17th century. They were invited to settle here and played a decisive role in shaping the city’s character, economy, and elegant baroque layout. Even today, this heritage is visible in the city’s grid-like streets and the Huguenot church, which stands as a reminder of Erlangen’s unusually international past for a town of its size.
Continue reading “Stopover”
Tucked away in a quiet stretch of woodland east of Friedland, the so‑called southern Meridianstein is one of those understated historical markers you could easily walk past without realising its significance. It’s a modest stone, weathered and almost blending into its natural surroundings, yet it represents a remarkable chapter in the scientific history of the region. Finding it requires a bit of curiosity and a willingness to leave the usual paths, but that sense of discovery is part of its appeal.
Continue reading “Meridianstein”
The Eisenbahnmuseum Lokschuppen Aumühle sits in a historic locomotive shed from 1906 on the edge of the Sachsenwald near Hamburg, and it is run by a volunteer association dedicated to preserving regional rail history. It began life as part of the old railway facilities in Aumühle, and today it serves as a hands-on museum for northern German local and suburban transport.
Continue reading “Lokschuppen”
The Sachsenwald near Aumühle is a large forested area east of Hamburg, shaped less like a wilderness and more like a historic cultural landscape, with paths, estates, railway links and memorial sites woven through it. Today it is one of the best places near the city for a walk that combines nature, history and a very distinct North German sense of place.
Continue reading “Sachsenwald”
The Gedenkstätte Kinder vom Bullenhuser Damm in Hamburg stands as one of the most haunting memorial sites from the final phase of the Second World War. Hidden within a modest school building in the Rothenburgsort district, it witnessed an unspeakable crime. In April 1945, only days before Germany’s surrender, twenty Jewish children – ten boys and ten girls aged between five and twelve – were brought there from the Neuengamme concentration camp, where they had previously been subjected to brutal medical experiments. The school’s basement became the scene of their final moments.
Continue reading “Bullenhuser Damm”
The Tour d’Energie in Göttingen has grown into one of the most prominent cycling events in central Germany, renowned for its lively atmosphere and excellent organisation. As a Jedermann-Rennen – meaning an event open to all – it attracts a diverse field of cyclists, from ambitious amateurs to seasoned enthusiasts. 5,500 people were attending this year. What makes the race particularly endearing is the sense of community surrounding it. Entire families line the streets, cheering participants on. It’s as much a festival of cycling as it is a test of endurance.
Continue reading “Tour d‘Energie”