The Nobel Peace Prize as a Reminder of Peace for the European Union

Ioannis Ntountoumis │ioannis_doudou@hotmail.com “The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2012 is to be awarded to the European Union. The Union and its forerunners have over six decades contributed to the advancement of peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe”. Thorbjørn Jagland (Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, … Continue reading The Nobel Peace Prize as a Reminder of Peace for the European Union

The Christmas Spirit: between malls and memories

When did the ‘exotic’ become more available than the traditional, and how did we move so quickly from dial-up internet connections to Wi-Fi on high-speed trains? While sipping from an extra-sweet coffee, subconsciously aware of the fact that the coffee beans must have been picked by impoverished women and children in remote plantations somewhere in South America, … Continue reading The Christmas Spirit: between malls and memories

Christmas in Sweden − Living in a snowball: Do not shake It, please

It usually starts every 13th of December after I ‘release’ myself from the library where I was studying for my final exams. It is time for Saint Lucia’s Day, or Santa Lucia as we call it in Sweden, and with a lussebullar in my hand I join the Lucia celebration in Stora Torget, Uppsala’s main … Continue reading Christmas in Sweden − Living in a snowball: Do not shake It, please

Göttingen – Christmas in Grimms’ town

Christmas market is situated in the small square in front of the Altes Rathaus, where the famous Gänseliesel stands, giving thousands of people the chance to walk through the narrow streets of the market and buy souvenirs and gifts. The visitors try Gluhwein, a warmed wine which constitutes the traditional German winter drink, and taste wurst bursts, curry wurst, … Continue reading Göttingen – Christmas in Grimms’ town

Cologne – The gateway of Europe to the German Christmas market experience

Cologne Christmas markets have became hotspots for tourist from all around the world during the pre-Christmas period and are especially famous for visitors from neighbouring countries. There are several high-speed train connections via Thalys or ICE to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam. Furthermore, Cologne airport hosts different low cost airlines for visitors travelling by plane. These … Continue reading Cologne – The gateway of Europe to the German Christmas market experience

In a Relationship with… Patti Smith

ATKA ATUN │atka_brozek@yahoo.com An androgynous woman, an embryo in a jar, a boyish adult, Andy Warhol, Allan Ginsberg, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, LSD, STDs, AIDS, art for art’s sake, Chelsea Hotel, hunger, lice but then – love, friendship, respect, almost divine devotion – innocence. “Just Kids” is a story of an extraordinary couple in the … Continue reading In a Relationship with… Patti Smith