Category Archives: culture

Rilke’s Ammersee flirtation

Posted on 27/04/2018 by kcosumano

Between 1914 and 1916, Rainer Maria Rilke was involved romantically with the (married) painter Lou Albert-Lasard. In 1915 he found himself somewhat stranded in Munich, waiting to learn whether he would be drafted into the Austrian Army. While there he … Continue reading →

Posted in Bavaria, culture, Germany, history, literature, lives of others, travel | 1 Comment

St. Ulrich’s Chapel & Healing Spring

Posted on 16/04/2018 by kcosumano

Just outside the village of Eresing, near the Ammersee, there is a small chapel and a fountain house where people would come wash themselves devoutly, especially the eyes. This spring is said to have healing powers, is dedicated to St. … Continue reading →

Posted in Bavaria, culture, Germany, history, Roman roads, travel | 1 Comment

Seeking Fortunatus

Posted on 18/02/2018 by kcosumano

After posting my most recent entry I began to look more seriously for the “Vita S. Martini” by Venantius Fortunatus in translation. It hasn’t brought much to light. I cannot read medieval Latin, but there is an Italian translation available … Continue reading →

Posted in Bavaria, culture, Germany, history, Italy, literature, translation, travel | Comments Off on Seeking Fortunatus

“If the Baiuvarii on the Lech don’t block your way”*

Posted on 15/02/2018 by kcosumano

My husband knows that I have this fascination with local maps and roads and routes from long ago. In a recent acquisition of used books he stumbled across something he knew I’d like — “Die Alpen in Frühzeit und Mittelalter” … Continue reading →

Posted in Bavaria, culture, Germany, history, literature, lives of others, Mountains, reading list, Roman roads, travel | Comments Off on “If the Baiuvarii on the Lech don’t block your way”*

Discovering Curt Bois

Posted on 27/12/2017 by kcosumano

We happened to be surfing around TV stations this evening and stumbled over a 1980s comedy series called Kir Royale, which had been filmed in Munich. Tonight’s episode was “Adieu Claire”, about a fictitious famous composer named Friedrich Danziger, very … Continue reading →

Posted in America, culture, Germany, history, lives of others, theater, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Discovering Curt Bois

Romans in Bavaria: comparing two online archeology maps for one specific area

Posted on 11/09/2017 by kcosumano

Zeitspringer has a post up (in German) about the Roman road which ran between Augsburg and Salzburg, an important salt route referred to today as the “Via Julia”. Evidently there is a bit of uncertainty about the point where the … Continue reading →

Posted in archaeology, Bavaria, culture, Germany, Roman roads, travel | 4 Comments

Circumitus: Batavis, Boiodurum

Posted on 10/06/2016 by kcosumano

(The name actually refers to the bicycle route and is not, apparently, what the Romans called it.) This posting hails from the other side of Bavaria, a “detour” onto the Roman road which follows the Danube and also the boundary … Continue reading →

Posted in archaeology, assimilation, Bavaria, culture, Germany, history, Roman roads, travel | 4 Comments

A Idea of Mine

Posted on 20/05/2016 by kcosumano

I have a confession to make. Beyond all the other things I am doing right now – singing, translating, assisting in a bookselling business – I have a project in mind for the future. I want to put together a … Continue reading →

Posted in archaeology, culture, Germany, history, Italy, Life Abroad, literature, memory, travel | 5 Comments

Nazi Bedtime Stories

Posted on 29/09/2015 by Marcellina

The next estate dissolution in which we took part involved the sale of a rather large piece of land in the middle of Munich. A rich textile-industry dynasty family had a villa there with a spacious guest house, and basement … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, Germany, history, language, literature | 2 Comments

Weekend Mountain Blogging: Maria Tax – Wolfsklamm

Posted on 18/06/2015 by Marcellina

A half-day hike above Stans to the Maria Tax Chapel. Taxen  is an old regional word for Tannen, or fir tree. Legend has it that the Virgin Mary made an appearance here in 1616,  leaving behind her handprint on a … Continue reading →

Posted in Austria, culture, language, Mountains, nature, travel | Comments Off on Weekend Mountain Blogging: Maria Tax – Wolfsklamm