Category: Travel

There in stark reality, the visitor must confront the insidious way that Hitler’s ideologies took root in the worst desires and fears of the German people and how easily that persuasion could work on others, how we could slow walk our way to depravity.

The passage of time has blurred my memory of the day and my journal lacks any more concrete details to help revive the memories. I remember feeling relaxed and enjoying the easy pace even as I got an exercise in map interpretation and navigation skills with the product of creative cartography.

The wandering did yield one highlight. Upon striking up a conversation with another American on the tour, she lavished compliments on my t-shirt. I wore my Dr. Who “we’re all stories in the end. Just make it a good one, eh?” shirt. It’s always nice to find another Whovian.

Often while planning this trip, I used the names of the title cities interchangeably, even going so far as to put the wrong name on the itinerary I left with Mom so she would know which European city’s time zone to enter on her clock. Thankfully, I did get to see and enjoy both cities.

I got to wander through Old Town with its cobblestone streets on my way to the Place du Bourg-de-Four, a square that served for centuries as a town square for centuries during medieval times and a forum during Roman times. Give me an Old Town and I’m in heaven.

All sorts of people gathered in the town, visitors to Zermatt, perhaps there to spectate the European mountain running championship held the following day, friends and family of the half marathoners or the relay members at the exchange point. I basked in the intoxicating feel of the runners about the begin their journey.

I have always thought I would write more about my travels than I end up posting. When I think about potential posts, I get caught up in trying to create some grand lesson I learned or deep observation to share. While I struggle, still, to find my voice, even after over a decade of blogging,…