From its foundation in 1386 and until World War I, Heidelberg University had jurisdiction over unruly students. Depending on your misdemeanour, you could land a sentence of anything from 24 hours to 4 weeks in the Studentenkarzer (student lock-up). The most common offences? … loud singing in the city lanes, inappropriate behaviour in public as […]
World at a Glance: Defenestration of Prague
‘Defenestration,’ he said, the stranger who came up to me as I leaned out the castle window. Or snuck up on me, rather. Silent as a panther he was. A tuxedo-clad panther, with grey eyes. Steel. Eerily magnetic. View from Prague Castle I must have looked as confused as I felt. ‘An ominous word for […]
World at a Glance: Tropical Island in a Nazi Hangar
Just 60 km from Berlin, in the state of Brandenburg, is an indoor beach paradise located in one of the world’s largest buildings. On Cat’s school trip to visit concentration camps this summer, we stopped at Tropical Island for a completely different experience. Important to balance the challenging with lighter things, especially with kids. Tropical […]
World at a Glance: Hraunfossar and Barnafoss waterfalls in Iceland
If it weren’t for Snorri Sturluson, we wouldn’t know very much about the Vikings. The famous poet and sagateller was from Reykholt in Western Iceland. Appropriate then, that you’ll find nature steeped in stories near his farm Snorrastofa. Hraunfossar (meaning lava falls) streams out of Hallmundarhraun, a lava field created by a volcanic eruption from […]
World at a Glance: The Bellinzona castles
In my World Heritage quest, I’ve seen a lot of military architecture lately. Not something I thought I’d be particularly excited about, but I’ve found these sites surprisingly interesting, including the three Bellinzona castles. Quite a few of these engineering feats are now on my wish list (heritage listed or not), such as Beelitz Heilstätten […]
World at a Glance: Le Locle, built for watchmakers
I’m up in the cool, crisp air in Switzerland’s Jura mountains, in the somewhat obscure little town of Le Locle. Just like its neighbour, La Chaux-de-Fonds, this town owes its existence to one of the country’s many claims to fame: watch production.
World at a Glance: Lake Malawi
Reminiscing a bit today, as I’ve dug out yet another batch of old photos from the pre-digital age. Lake Malawi today, folks – where I had ended up on a whim, really. Whims are how my travels roll. I was at the tail end of several weeks of rather aimless traipsing around southern Africa. The […]
Welcome! I'm Sophie - writer, dreamer, negotiator, wanderer, mum - in search of the world's curious places. Mostly with my daughters, sometimes solo. The girls share their take on it, too.
- Kazakhstan & Kyrgyzstan with G Adventures: a trip review
- 7 things 2016 taught me
- The charms of England’s Lake District
- A look inside North Korea
- 11 things you’ll love about Kraków
- 11 things you’ll love on the Luther trail
- 24 August 79: A Day Like Any Other
- World at a Glance: Heidelberg’s Student Prison
- In Bruges: UNESCO meets black comedy crime
- De Koninck: Antwerp in a Bottle
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Luminita: These Italian villas are so unique, each with its ...
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Serhat: I think Four Seasons hotels are always the best. I...
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Anne-Sophie Redisch: Thanks! They\'re both excellent in their own ways....
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Shashank. R: One of the fantastic and colourful posts represent...
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Stephen Garone: Nice post! I missed Adriana when I was in Rome, bu...
