Mink Machine - Traveling, writing, photography

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My book about traveling contains over 300 pages of stories from my travels during three decades, a lot of countries and even more cups of coffee.

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Latest posts

The Orecchiette ladies of Bari

April 12, 2024

The old part of Bari was known as “mugging town” a few decades ago. The tradition of theft started way back in 1087, as Barese sailors managed to steal the bones of St Nicholas (the model for Santa Claus) from Turkey and brought his remains to their city.

Influences in Gallipoli

April 10, 2024

As with many cities around the Mediterranean Sea, Gallipoli has a checkered past with influences from a multitude of invading forces. The old town of Gallipoli is located on an island, facing the Ionian Sea.

The magic of Matera

April 09, 2024

I’m in Matera, an ancient town in the region of Basilicata in southern Italy. The area is full of ancient caves, where people have lived for 7000 years.

Movie locations around the world part 9

March 13, 2024

Welcome to part 9 of my quest for finding movie locations around the world. Contents: Mission Impossible 6 Fallout, Tenet, The Italian Job, Excalibur, 3 Days To Kill, John Wick 3, John Wick 4, Spartacus, Everyone Says I Love You, Ronin, Saving Private Ryan, The International, Carlito’s Way, Once, Ghostbusters 2, The Quiet Man, Cast Away.

Review: The Map of Knowledge

March 01, 2024

Usually travel stories are centered around a person doing the traveling, but this time around the actual travel is rather performed by ideas. The Map of Knowledge by Violet Moller is not a travel book in the traditional sense, but the story on how learnings were passed down through the centuries.

Older posts

On the Trans-Siberian

"Since the toilets were locked during the seven hour stop, we had to bribe the provodnitsas to use the facilities."

A journey through Iran

"As expected, the ride actually ended up with a car crash, making a big dent in my passenger door."

Alone in Kyoto

"I tried my best to sneak across the building, but the floor revealed me each time. I suppose I would make a lousy ninja."

Exploring Chernobyl

"The soundtrack of the day was Radioactivity by Kraftwerk, as we rolled into Chernobyl this morning."

Good morning Montenegro

"One would almost think that all this secrecy was made on purpose to keep the hordes of tourists away."

Exploring Durban

"I would not recommend other travelers to do a casual stroll through the dodgier parts, such as the quarters near Juma Masjid."

Greetings from Moldova

"Even though Moldova is one of the poorest countries in Europe, the capital has its fair share of impressive buildings and post-Soviet architecture."

Getting lost in Yazd

"Navigating on random while surrounded by staring old men, pointing their crooked fingers at the Godzilla Viking in surprise. It feels like I’m walking around in Mos Eisley."

Roaming the cobblestones of Istanbul

"Inside the church there are still traces of rune inscriptions made during the Viking age by Varangians, an elite guard made up of Scandinavian immigrant warriors."

Historic locations in Gothenburg

"Hundreds of houses were quickly build, but unfortunately all of it was burned to the ground in 1611 by Danish forces."

Aliens in Nevada and New Mexico

"We turned around and went down another dirt road, past countless Joshua trees until our car was covered in dirt and we finally arrived at the Front Gate of Area 51."

Visions of Singapore

"By extensive use of landfill with sand bought from Indonesia and Cambodia, the bay area has expanded greatly in the last few years and tall buildings pop up everywhere."

Conquering Machu Picchu

"I felt like some strange mix between Indiana Jones and a small boy, gazing down upon the final treasure of the Incas."

Chilling in Chile

"After almost a month of traveling across the South American continent I realize that this is as far south as I will come, due to weather conditions."

The urban maze of Tangier

"The old Medina is full of fascinating gates and narrow alleys, where I blend in like Moby Dick at a Nine Inch Nails concert."

The dark days of Sarajevo

"The city survived on the edge of annihilation and has started to recover, but the stone walls still seem to cry out in lament at all the horrible things they have seen."