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French Stereotypes
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Having been in France for a couple of months, I think it’s fair to say I’m now an expert in French culture. Here’s my judgement of two French stereotypes.
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A Look Around the Louvre, France
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If you haven’t had a chance to visit the Louvre in Paris, or even if you have, allow me to take you on a fascinating and ill-informed tour of some of the Museum’s lesser known artworks
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Walking to Poland, Germany
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Whilst visiting Germany’s Baltic coast, I realised I was staying only a couple of kilometres from the Polish border. Being Australian, the thought of being able to walk to another country had me giggling like a kid.
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‘Morgen!’, Germany
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While enjoying the breakfast buffet in several different hotels, I noticed something very cool about German culture.
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Sarajevo – Siege City, Bosnia and Herzegovina
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The first time I remember Sarajevo coming to our screens in Australia was for the ’84 Winter Olympics. The second time was for a long and bloody siege that mocked any notion of human rights and dignity.
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Lost and Found in Translation, Balkans
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I often find it funny how people who speak English as a second (third, fourth or fifth) language habitually use phrases that English people don’t. I am sure there are people all around the world right now saying the exact same thing about English speakers who learn their languages.
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Leaving Kosovo
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Sometimes leaving a country is a straight-forward, stress-free exercise. Other times, it is anything but.
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A Walk in the Black Forest, Germany
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The Black Forest. The name conjures images of dark, mysterious mountain woods, inhabited by wild animals and supernatural creatures straight from the pages of classic fairytales. I was in the neighbourhood, so thought I’d spend some time exploring this place of legends.
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The Statues of Skopje, North Macedonia
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Whoever was in charge of Skopje’s Statue Department clearly took the ‘more is more’ approach to their portfolio. The Macedonian capital has a lot of statues. And when I sat a lot, I mean heaps. Literally hundreds.
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Vodici Ceremony, North Macedonia
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When I checked in to my apartment in the North Macedonian capital of Skopje, the landlord mentioned that the following day was a public holiday. He explained that a ceremony, involving hardy souls plunging into the freezing Vardar River, would be taking place in the city, and that it’s something I might like to have a look at. He was right.