Italy

Italy is a very strange place if you don’t understand it and it starts to make sense to you the more time you spend there. I found Italians to be spontaneous and practical – traits that make their run-down cities function and adapt despite poor maintenance of public facilities. All Read more…

Switzerland

I have had the pleasure of enjoying the clear lakes, snowy peaks, grassy knolls, and fresh produce of Switzerland for over a year when I lived in Geneva. When I arrived in 2019, I made myself a commitment to learn all I can about the local geography, history, culture, and Read more…

Kaiseraugst, Switzerland

Called Augusta Raurica in ancient Roman times, this city was named after Augustus Caesar. Like Avenches and Brugg, it was the largest city located along the trading route between the Italian peninsula and Alemannia via the Swiss alps. It has one of the most varied (not most well-preserved) variety of Read more…

Brugg, Switzerland

“Brugg” sounds like the German word for “bridge” and its name came from having a bridge that crossed the River Aare connecting a major trade route between Italy and Germany. The municipality has a little bit of everything, it was founded in Roman times, has a famous monastery founded in Read more…

Fürstenwalde, Germany

On Polish independence day, Chen and I took our scooters over to Poland. November isn’t exactly the best scooter weather in Eastern Europe, but we made do anyways. On our way from Berlin to Frankfurt an der Oder, we passed through Fürstenwalde, the name means the forest of the prince. Read more…

Boston Public Library

Except the Library of Congress, Massachusetts has two of the largest collections in the US. One in Harvard University and one in the Boston Public Library. Although its collection is immense, the impressive architecture is what draws people to the library from far and wide. It’s an amazing public space Read more…