Category Archives: Europe

Lithuania: Eastern Europe or not?

Posted on 13 October 2012 by

Ever since my move to Lithuania a few months ago, I feel like I am in Eastern Europe. In fact, discovering Eastern Europe was one of the main reasons behind my move east (I should point out that I am … Continue reading →

Posted in Cold War, Europe, Lithuania, Maps, Travel | 26 Comments

History is never far away in Europe

Posted on 12 August 2012 by

Cycling back from beautiful Europos Parkas to Vilnius, I came across this reminder about the gruesome history of the 20th century in Europe. The marker was almost hidden in a forest, on the outskirts of the village of Joneikiškės. Just another village … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, History, Holocaust, Lithuania, Photography, Travel, World War II | 13 Comments

A Very Short History of Lithuania

Posted on 3 August 2012 by

One of the reasons behind my move to Lithuania was that it is a perfect case study of 20th century European history, with its independence between the two World Wars, then the occupation by the Soviet Union, by Nazi Germany, … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, History, Lithuania | 3 Comments

Not such a “foreign court”

Posted on 31 May 2012 by

British politicians, especially from the Conservative Party, tend to call the European Court of Human Rights a “foreign court”. Prime Minister David Cameron just did so again in the debate about prisoners’ voting rights: “This should be a matter for Parliament … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Human Rights, Law, Politics, UK | 5 Comments

Why Germany is bailing out Greece

Posted on 1 March 2012 by

Have you ever wondered why Germany, Europe’s economic powerhouse, is contributing so much money to help Greece when even Greeks themselves are not contributing much more than going on strike, setting banks on fire and blaming Germany? The following photo … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Europe, Germany, Greece, Politics | 4 Comments

A Tale of Two Ships: How Europe welcomes Refugees

Posted on 16 January 2012 by

“Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” Emma Lazarus: The New Colossus … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Human Rights, Immigration Law, Italy, Politics, Travel | Tagged | 39 Comments

Where is Malta?

Posted on 30 December 2011 by

After receiving the 25th e-mail from a friend that included the question “Where is Malta, actually?”, I decided to devote a blog post to this recurring question. I cannot do so however, without voicing my despair about people’s lack of … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Malta, Maps, Travel | 18 Comments

Malta and Germany swap refugees

Posted on 25 November 2011 by

The Times of Malta reports: A group o 152 sub-saharan Africans will be leaving Malta to embark on a new life in Germany on Tuesday. All had arrived in Malta after the outbreak of the crisis in Libya. They are 43 … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Germany, Immigration Law, Malta, Travel | 10 Comments

Leaving London, Moving to Malta

Posted on 13 November 2011 by

When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford, said Samuel Johnson in 1777. I have been living in London for two years now and it is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Life, London, Malta, Travel, UK | 81 Comments

Don’t travel to Europe!

Posted on 5 October 2010 by

So say the US State Department and the UK Foreign Office in travel warnings issued because of terror alerts in October 2010. Just having been to Germany a few weeks ago, I checked the Foreign Office’s travel warning about my … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Politics, Terrorism, Travel | Tagged | 6 Comments