Article Index
Lion Hearts
To be a foreign guard meant being a Swiss guard.
Author: Edward Porper
Trams in Bern
Trams are still extant and functional in many countries throughout the world. Arguably, they owe their longevity to a different kind of experience they provide.
Author: Edward Porper
Bearing It Up
Bears are ubiquitous in Bern, and they greet citizens and visitors from everywhere - both in name and in person.
Author: Edward Porper
The Origins of Bern
While there are plenty of cities with self-explanatory names, many other cases are much more obscure, sometimes even as mysterious as Gioconda's smile.
Author: Edward Porper
Swiss Sketches - The Einstein House
An ordinary early 20th century middle class apartment joining the list of attractions, on par with any other attraction in the town or even throughout the country, is a question-raising phenomenon.
Author: Edward Porper
Swiss Sketches - The Fountain Mile in Bern
Ten distinct statues perched on fountains and lined up along a thoroughfare in the Old Town, the distance between the end statues being exactly a mile.
Author: Edward Porper
Children of Fire - Johann-Sebastian
The Bachs were held in so high regard that local rulers wouldn't hire a court musician whose last name wasn't Bach!
Author: Edward Porper
Children of Fire - Wartburg
The similarity between German words for "mountain" and "fortress" contributed to the name of the future castle.
Author: Edward Porper
Children of Fire: Martin
The pinnacle of those achievements was translating the Bible into German vernacular - a deed that gave millions access to the sacred texts, thus ending their dependence on the official Church's interpretations.
Author: Edward Porper