Category Archives: history

May 5th, 1988

Posted on 04/05/2018 by kcosumano

The postcard arrived in his mailbox on the 4th. This was it. It was now happening. The last few years might have been like a dream, but the months leading up to this moment had been like the day of … Continue reading →

Posted in assimilation, Bavaria, Germany, history, lives of others, memory, travel | Comments Off on May 5th, 1988

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

A story of changing times

Posted on 27/03/2018 by kcosumano

Once upon a time, there was a miller who lived in a small town. This miller was quite successful, and had expanded his business into a large commercial bakery. There had always been a mill by the river — in … Continue reading →

Posted in Germany, history, lives of others, memory, travel | 2 Comments

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 →

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“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

In Via: Raisting

Posted on 29/01/2017 by kcosumano

* If one is interested, as I am, in the routes of the Roman roads in southern Bavaria, then one has probably heard of Raisting; the north-to-south road from the Brenner Pass to Augsburg (Via Raetia) and the southwest-to-northeast road … Continue reading →

Posted in archaeology, Bavaria, Germany, history, lives of others, Mountains, nature, Roman roads, travel | 2 Comments

Soviodurum, and a Mysterious Stone Object

Posted on 25/10/2016 by kcosumano

I had the chance to visit Straubing, a small town along the Danube in Lower Bavaria – basically I was there on business, but arrived a few hours earlier in order to see the Roman exhibit at the town museum. … Continue reading →

Posted in archaeology, Bavaria, Germany, history, Roman roads, travel | 2 Comments

The Jewish Cemetery at St. Ottilien

Posted on 26/07/2016 by kcosumano

Near the Ammersee lies a Benedictine Monastery named for St. Ottilien, or St. Odile of Alsace (A recounting of St. Odile’s life on Wikipedia reads somewhat like a season wrap-up of Game of Thrones.) If you find yourself near the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bavaria, Germany, history, lives of others, memory, travel | 2 Comments