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

November 14, 2026November 14, 2026

Niederwalddenkmal

Some viewpoints you earn; this one you can nearly stumble into. Ride the chairlift from Rüdesheim through the vineyards of the Rheingau – a lovely, slightly creaky affair swinging you over rows of Riesling vines – and within fifteen minutes you find yourself standing before the Niederwalddenkmal, one of the most striking monuments anywhere on the Rhein. Or hike uphill through the vineyards like I did, it is wonderful! The monument crowns the wooded hillside above the town, gazing south across the broad bend of the river towards Bingen and the beginning of the dramatic Rheintal. On a clear afternoon, with the ferries weaving below and the Niederwald forest at your back, it is easy to understand why this spot was chosen for something monumental. It helps that the walk back down, or a glass of dry Riesling in town afterwards, gives the whole excursion a pleasantly civilised rhythm.

November 14, 2026

Drosselgasse

The Drosselgasse is the famously narrow, cobblestoned lane at the heart of Rüdesheim am Rhein’s old town. Barely 144 metres long, it links the town’s riverside streets with its historic centre and has become the place where visitors and locals naturally converge for a glass of Rheingau Riesling, a hearty meal and a lively evening. Its atmosphere is unmistakably convivial: half-timbered façades, vine-covered arcades, traditional inns and the constant hum of conversation and music give the alley a character that feels both historic and thoroughly festive.

November 12, 2026November 12, 2026

Moco

The Moco Museum in Barcelona is an independent museum devoted to modern, contemporary, digital and street art. Its name stands for MOdern COntemporary, and it aims to make internationally significant art accessible in an engaging, approachable setting rather than presenting it in a purely academic way. The Barcelona branch occupies a historic palace on Carrer de Montcada in El Born, one of the city’s most atmospheric old quarters.

November 11, 2026November 12, 2026

Montjuïc

Montjuïc is Barcelona’s great green hill above the harbour, a place where gardens, museums, sports venues and a fortress combine into one of the city’s most rewarding areas to explore. It is more than a single landmark: its slopes contain reminders of Catalonia’s artistic, political and military history, while its elevated position provides some of the finest views over the city and the Mediterranean. For a visitor with a little time to spare, it rewards a slow walk as much as a quick sightseeing visit.

November 4, 2026November 2, 2026

Bean island

Borkum is the westernmost and largest of the East Frisian Islands, lying off the coast of Niedersachsen between the Ems estuary and the Dutch border. Its name has evolved over many centuries: early Roman writers referred to it as Burchana fabaria, the “bean island”, and later forms such as Borkna, Borkyn and Borckum gradually became the modern Borkum. The island’s history stretches back well beyond its recorded name, through periods of shifting sands, storm floods and changing political rule, before it developed into the distinctive North Sea resort it is today.

November 4, 2026October 29, 2026

Rote Erde

The BSW-Inselhotel Rote Erde is a three-star hotel on the North Sea island of Borkum, in the East Frisian Islands of Niedersachsen, Germany. It sits right in the centre of the spa town on Strandstraße 30, just a few minutes’ walk from the beach and directly beside the new lighthouse. With around 130 renovated rooms, most reachable by lift, it offers a practical base for exploring the dunes, the promenade and the harbour, while keeping the noise of the resort at a comfortable distance.

November 1, 2026November 1, 2026

Klaasohm

Klaasohm is Borkum’s answer to Nikolaustag, but it is a far cry from the gentle, child-friendly version familiar elsewhere in Germany. Rooted in the island’s whaling past, the custom is said to date back to the 18th century, when men returned from months at sea and used the ritual to symbolically reclaim authority after women had run households and community life in their absence. The name itself blends “Klaas” (Nicholas) with “Ohm”, an old term for a respected elder, signalling that this is less about gifts and more about hierarchy, identity and the reassertion of male dominance at year’s end.

October 30, 2026November 3, 2026

Leuchtfeuer

The Neuer Leuchtturm on Borkum is one of those landmarks that rewards a little effort with a genuinely memorable view. Built in 1879 after a fire had severely damaged the island’s old lighthouse, it was completed in only about six months to restore a vital navigational aid for shipping approaching the Ems estuary. Its robust brick tower has remained in service ever since, guiding vessels around the East Frisian coast and marking one of the most important approaches on the North Sea.

October 29, 2026October 30, 2026

Nordlicht

Reaching Borkum by ferry is straightforward if you plan the connection via Emden. AG EMS operates regular services from Emden’s outer harbour (Außenhafen) directly to Borkum’s Reede harbour. From there, the narrow-gauge island railway, the Borkumer Kleinbahn, takes you into the town in about fifteen minutes. The entire sea-and-rail journey is designed to be seamless, with coordinated timetables so that you can step off the train and onto the ship with minimal waiting.

October 16, 2026October 18, 2026

Time flies

Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Playground, London

The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground is one of London’s most memorable places for families, tucked into the north-west corner of Kensington Gardens. It opened in 2000 as a tribute to Princess Diana, who lived at nearby Kensington Palace, and was built on the site of an earlier Peter Pan playground associated with J. M. Barrie. Its purpose is simple but fitting: a free, imaginative space where children can play, explore and enjoy the gardens that were so closely linked with the princess.