Can the real Dracula please rise?
We all know Dracula as the bloodsucking, evil creature made up by Bram Stoker. He’s got long corner teeth, or fangs, a cape, slick black hair and preferably some blood running from the corner of his mouth. And somehow he’s usually portrayed with his hands out like claws. Long story…
Back when…
Did you know the Romans lived in Morocco? Well, I didn’t. At least I never really thought about it. When I think about the Romans, I think of ancient Rome and ancient Greece. I forget that the Romans spread out in all directions. So they also spread out to Africa.…
Walking through Bremen’s history
The most common response to me choosing to go to Bremen, in Germany, is ‘why?’. “Well… to go to language school.” “O. But why Bremen? Why not Berlin, or Hamburg or München?” So I thought Bremen would be full of Germans and wouldn’t have any tourists. It seemed like nobody…
Back in the day
I really hadn’t ever heard of it and it seems to be fairly new, the Historium in Bruges. I came across it when I was researching things to do in Bruges for my tour group. So when I was actually in Bruges, walking around, thinking about what to do, I…
Between lords and ladies
Cesky Krumlov. Never in my life had I heard about this town… until I started working for G. When I first saw the trip I was going to run, I was a bit confused. Why would they put me in an area I barely know and do not speak the…
These shoes are made of iron
For my new job I’ve been reading a lot about the second world war and the holocaust. It’s a grim subject, but really interesting. There are so many countries and so many people involved. So much was happening all at the same time. I think I’ve never been interested in…
Feeling history
Walking into Sachsenhausen is one of the most bizarre, eery and emotional things I’ve done as a tourist. I went on a chilly day at the start of the year. Only two nights before had I been celebrating the new year and gazed at the fireworks. Now I plowed through…
Vienna’s history repeats daily
The center of Vienna houses an old clock. Every day at midday its inhabitants start dancing on a variety of music. I just had to check it out. I feel like a child in anticipation of the Punch and Judy show. But this is the Austrian version. The Anker clock…
Digging up Sydney’s dirt
The good thing about living in Sydney for a while, is that you have the time to see all the smaller and lesser known activities around the city. If I were a tourist on a busy schedule, I wouldn’t have visited the small Justice & Police museum. During a weekend…
Escape to funky Cockatoo Island
From Sydney you can take a ferry to Cockatoo island, a small island that used to be a jail and is now mainly a quirky spot for art and camping. It’s been there for years, but was only developed for tourism in 2007 and is a hit with both tourists…