A visit to the Rhineland
I spent a weekend in Mittelrheintal, a region of vineyards and castles, wine and tourists. I went to the history museum in Bingen to check out the St. Hildegard exhibit and it turned out they also have the grave goods…
Tag heritage
the holiday season in Berlin
I’ve never been particularly Grinchy, but I’ve also never really gotten caught up in the winter holidays much, either. People kept telling me how much I was going to love the season in Berlin, though, and sure enough. I’m also…
25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall
It’s the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall and I’d like to write about what being here for that has meant for me. I’ve been a little blocked, though, because I was trying to get it all…
my new books
This week I made it to Dussmann, an enormous book and music store here in Berlin. They have an entire English bookstore inside the larger store. I got both English and German versions of Maria Treben’s “Health from God’s Apothecary”.…
sitting at the feet of Dr. Lad
Today a student in my German class asked if I knew a little about Ayurveda. I said I did and found myself telling her about when I went to Albuquerque to take a workshop taught by Dr. Vasant Lad. On…
hazel
Hazel is the plant that has most enthusiastically welcomed me to Europe. In my first days in Berlin, I took this photo and posted it on Facebook, asking if anyone knew what it was. I quickly figured out for myself…
Connemara Seaweed Baths
My top priority for my trip to Ireland was to go soak in a seaweed bath. I grew up in Connecticut, only an hour or so from ocean water. For as long as I can remember I’ve longed to cuddle…
Berliner Medizinhistorisches Museum
Yesterday I went to the Berliner Medizinhistorisches Museum, at the Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin. (History of Medicine Museum at the Charity Medical School, Berlin.) When I first arrived I had a few extra minutes before I was to meet with my…
Those Who Aren’t Ancestors
Roses and German make me want to share some family stories, both plain and embroidered. But before I honor my ancestors, I must first honor those who aren’t. You see, I’m not going to have any children. Whenever I’m reminded…