Posted on September 30th, 2003 by aj
Berlin was not all that special. Maybe my impression was colored by being woken up on the train into Deutchland by a kick to the head by a German police officer while he shined a flashlight in my eyes. He may have muttered something like “sorry” as he moved on to the next compartment. But [...]
Posted on September 26th, 2003 by aj
In Paris, everything is perfect. The broad avenues intersect in star plazas with huge statuary and fountains. Your walk is always close to trees and little public flower gardens. The buildings are all decorated as finely frosted cakes. Everything is just a little nicer than it needs to be, but also spookily uniform. The city [...]
Posted on September 23rd, 2003 by aj
Amsterdam is outrageously small and cute. Built around concentric canals, the houses are wedged along the water mingled in with cafes and shops. The narrow cobblestone spoke streets gradually give way to avenues outside the medieval center, but the first thing you notice is the bicycles. Everyone seems to be on one of these black [...]
Posted on September 19th, 2003 by aj
In late September we left Boston, flew into Keflek airport, rented a subcompact mini car and drove to Reykjavik as the sun rose. Watching long fingers of misty clouds retreat back over the mountains we realized what the big deal was about Iceland. The vulcan rock of the island is sharp, raw and fresh. Everything [...]