Fasching at 11

It might seem silly, particularly when we honor our US Veterans on the same day, but serious things were happening today on Weimar’s Market Square. Even if people were wearing Fools’ Hats. The official beginning of Fasching, known as Carnival most places, was triggered by … Read more

Bells of Tragedy and Triumph

WEIMAR, Nov. 9, 2013 – Bathed in the quiet of early evening, we were snug at our computers when the bell went “klingel.” Our dearest Weimar friends, Gudrun and Jochen, rushed in and said, “Get your coats on and come.” After 12 years of friendship, … Read more

The Weimar Onion Festival

We will have missed the Onion Market when we get to Weimar next week. Now in its 360th year, the ultra German Onion Festival (Zweibelmarkt) will be a memory. A scent in the air, you might say. Yup, onions. You should see the weeks of … Read more

Russian Orthodox Chant in Kizhi

kizhi-church

Leading a Russian Waterways trip from St. Petersburg to Moscow for Smithsonian Journeys, I eagerly awaited our stop at the Island of Kizhi in the northern Republic known as Karelia. The most famous structure, the Church of the Transfiguration, has 22 domes built by of … Read more

The Beauty and Tradition of the Russian Village

Smithsonian Journeys: Waterways of Russia Resources for Further Study I. Principal Terms: 1. Русский Дух – Russkii dukh – Russian Spirit/Soul  2. The word “rod” and some significant words that result: род rod kind/type родить rodit’ to give birth (to) родина rodina native land народ narod the … Read more

Russian Literary Tradition

Smithsonian Journeys: Waterways of Russia Resources for Further Study The Russian literary tradition is rich in folk art and fairy tales. 1.  Лубок  Lubok Lubok or Lubki (plural) arose in folk art primarily in the early 18th century as savvy and often cutting-edge commentaries on politics … Read more

The Poet Pushkin: Russia’s Most Important Voice

Smithsonian Journeys: Russian Waterways Materials Resources for Further Study LIFE AND PRINCIPAL WORKS Born: May 26, 1799 in Moscow Education: Lyceum at Tsarskoe selo (The Tsars’ Village) Exile to the South (Kishinev, Odessa, Mikhailovskoe): 1820-26 Influence during Exile: The Nanny–Arina Rodionovna (1758-1828) Marriage: Natalia Goncharova … Read more

Prague in Cultural History

The classroom keeps getting bigger! My association with The Smithsonian in Washington D.C. has led to opportunities I couldn’t have envisioned a few years ago. These include taking groups of Smithsonian travelers to Eastern Europe and Russia as well as speaking on ships in places … Read more

Learning Polish History

If you want to take a whirlwind tour through Polish history as well as Polish art and architecture, the place to start is Krakow’s Wawel Royal Castle and the Wawel Cathedral. We wanted an intense tour, so we employed one of our favorite strategies: Step … Read more