Zürich, 29 December 2015 Both the big name guidebooks, Lonely Planet and Rough Guides, suggest a visit to the University of Zürich. “See the Archaeological Collection”, they say. “Visit the Graphics Collection”, they suggest. “Check out the Law Library”, they advise. Yet a university is so daunting a place to check out as a tourist, especially… Continue reading Me at the U of Z
Category: History
Canada Slim and the City of Spirits
Zürich, 29 December 2015: “Zürich´s relationship to the world is not of the spirit, but of commerce.” (Carl Jung) “Not so long ago, Zürich was famed chiefly for being the cleanest, most efficient city in Europe – prim, but devoid of soul.” (Rough Guide to Switzerland) There is the city everyone assumes Zürich to be:… Continue reading Canada Slim and the City of Spirits
On a pathway to Hell
Boxing Day / 26 December 2015 I decide to go a-walkin´. Wife at work while I have the day off and a ticket to ride anywhere in Switzerland for as long as 26 December 2015 lasts (0500 – 2400). Decide to resume walk begun long ago in Bargen (the northernmost point in Switzerland)… (See Borderline… Continue reading On a pathway to Hell
The road not taken
Wienachtsdorf am Bellevue, Zürich, 23 December 2015: The book I bought today, among other books I spoiled myself buying in Zürich before meeting my wife and enjoying the splendor that is Zürich´s Christmas market, is mentally burning a hole in my backpack. The Mammoth Book of Time Travel Science Fiction ponders the question: What happens… Continue reading The road not taken
Working for a giant
As regular followers of this blog know, I have two jobs: freelance teacher and part-time barista. I work as a humble part-time barista for the largest coffeehouse company in the world, Starbucks. And I can´t deny that this results in mixed feelings. I am older than this upstart of a company. In fact, I am… Continue reading Working for a giant
Canadian home sickness and the Excited States of America
As a Canadian resident in Switzerland there are many things I miss about life in Canada: I miss old friends and family. I miss the magnificent splendour of my home and native land. And I miss small things too: Food like Habitant pea soup, poutine, tourtiere, Canadian breakfast, perogies, microwave dinners, beavertails… Comedians like Lorne… Continue reading Canadian home sickness and the Excited States of America
Snowflakes from Nazareth
Recently in my (far too) regular visits to Facebook I stumbled across a cartoon that made me smile so I forwarded it along to others without thinking too much about it at the time. “Don´t be absurd! Nobody made us! We evolved by chance from snowflakes!”, says one snowman to the other. “Sorry, but all… Continue reading Snowflakes from Nazareth
Allegiance to the Queen
Arenenberg, Switzerland – Today my wife Ute and I visited Arenenberg Castle for Advent Sunday brunch. “Arenenberg is an estate with a small chateau, Schloss Arenenberg, in the municipality of Salenstein at the shore of Lake Constance in Thurgau, Switzerland, that is famous as the final domicile of Hortense de Beauharnais. Today it houses the Napoleon… Continue reading Allegiance to the Queen
Dark discussions
I asked Reggie, my American cousin in all but bloodline, why Americans are responding with such fear and suspicion to Syrian refugees. He responded that I should not be so surprised considering how America treats its minorities already resident there. Why, I asked Reggie my ebony brother, was there so much violence against black folks in… Continue reading Dark discussions
We´ll always have Paris (1): The official record
On 12 November 2015, two suicide bombers detonated explosives in Bourj el-Barajneh, a southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, that is inhabited mostly by Shia Muslims and is controlled by Hezbollah. Reports of the number of deaths range from 37 to 41 to 43. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attacks. Two suicide bombings occurred in commercial… Continue reading We´ll always have Paris (1): The official record