Category: BITS and PIECES

NordArt 2025: What to Know Before You Visit

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As you look to the sidebar on the right edge of the screen, you’ll see that the keywords in the tag cloud vary in size. Even in comparison with cities like Athens, Buenos Aires, or Tokyo, the tag of the German one-horse town of Büdelsdorf appears quite big.
Interesting, right? But why is that?
Well, in 2025, I’m reporting on the annual North German mega art event NordArt already for the sixth time, and that’s why its venue, Büdelsdorf, appears pretty large as I’m tagging it each time I go, which then pushes it up in the tag cloud.
I’m kinda making Büdelsdorf a clandestine shooting star.
Having this clarified, I’m glad you’re joining me for my sixth NordArt post in which I’ll tell you all there is to know to get the most out of your visit in 2025.

Renata Green sitting in the art installation Childhood Block by LEUNG Hongman.
This year, I even became part of a work of art: Incorporated into LEUNG Hongman’s installation called Childhood Block.
This Way to the Whole Story ->

NordArt 2024: Everything You Need to Know Before Your Visit

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Last Saturday, the moment had come: NordArt 2024 opened its gates and is once again delivering a wealth of inspiring art to its visitors.
In this post I’ll tell you everything you need to know for your visit to the NordArt 2024 – but first, I reveal the secret of where the fun-sounding venue Büdelsdorf is actually located.

Eva by MojDa David Moješčik at the NordArt 2024
Eva by MojDa aka David Moješčik in the center of the humongous former production hall.
This Way to the Whole Story ->

From North German Ports to the Americas: Migration in the 19th and 20th Century

Posted onAuthorRenata Green55 Comments

In the 19th and 20th centuries, millions of people left Europe for the Americas in search of a better life – choosing a migration route through North German ports.

sculpture called Die Auswanderer, emigrants, remembering Migration from North German Ports to the Americas
This sculpture called Die Auswanderer, hence emigrants, is standing on the shore of the river Weser. It remembers the seven million passing through the port of Bremerhaven. Actually, this statue by Frank Varga was donated by the German-American Memorial Association.

As a counterpart to the arrival halls in Ellis Island, several museums in German cities remember the adventurous journeys of the emigrants in transit.

This Way to the Whole Story ->

Pre-Travel Jitters: Danger Seems Closer from Afar

Posted onAuthorRenata Green23 Comments

No, I’m by no means immune to pre-travel jitters and I sense danger looming ahead. Even after years and years of solo-travel, days before the departure, I’m a nervous wreck.

Man selling Cangas on the Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.
A gentleman selling Cangas on the beach of the Copacabana. This is certainly a place where you shouldn’t take your valuables and leave your phone unattended. Other than that: Enjoy, life is a beach, after all!

Did anything ever happen to me that would justify this hysteria? Of course not! It’s only the tricky phenomenon that danger seems to be so much closer from afar.

This Way to the Whole Story ->

How to Visit the NordArt in 2023

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The older I get, the faster time seems to go by. The advantage of time just flying by, however, is the fast return of annual events such as the wonderful art fair NordArt. Every year, this fantastic art event transforms the northern German provincial town of Büdelsdorf for a couple of months into a vibrant and exciting international art mecca. So come on, join me on my train ride into the boonies, and let me show you how to visit NordArt 2023.

Heads are rolling, literally, at the first, pebble-covered exhibition hall.
Spanish artist Samuel Salcedo casted them from iron and aluminum.
This Way to the Whole Story ->

How to Visit the DOCUMENTA fifteen in Kassel in 2022

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Cultural Life is back! And instead of timidly knocking, it simply kicked down the door and threw three mega art events at us. So after having introduced what’s on at this year’s Biennale di Arte in Venice and at the NordArt in Northern Germany, it’s time to inform you on how to visit the 15th edition of the documenta in Kassel in 2022.

Mural by the Ruan Grupa at the Documenta fifteen in Kassel in 2022
A bold mural on the northern wall of the ruru House is announcing all the amazing participants of this year’s documenta.
This Way to the Whole Story ->

How to Visit the NordArt in 2022

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In this post, I’m telling you how to visit the NordArt 2022, an international art event taking place in Büdelsdorf. Büdels…what? I knew you’d need more information and possibly a guide.

Ode to Art by Liu Ruowang at the NordArt 2022
Ode to Art by Chinese superstar Liu Ruowang. I’ve introduced him on the blog before – for instance in my post on Florence where his cast iron wolves were roaming the city.

Although the NordArt is an international art show that takes place every year, it’s by far not as important as the Documenta in Kassel let alone the Bienniale di Arte in Venice. However, it is installed in an intriguing setting, a wonderful day trip away from Hamburg or Berlin, and therefore totally worth the visit.

This Way to the Whole Story ->

Break a Leg – My Bumpy First Encounter With Gran Canaria

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It was in June. Europe’s borders were slowly opening and the Canary Islands lost their high-risk status. I finally had the chance to book a flight, look for accommodation, plan a trip. Life was like it used to be in the olden days.

It was on a Wednesday that I landed at Gran Canaria’s international airport south of the capital Las Palmas. This city would be my base, however, it had to wait another night for me. The first day was dedicated to Agüimes, a small town about 30 minutes inland at the foot of the island’s famous mountains.

Barranco in Gran Canaria where I did break a leg
Not a busy spot, indeed.

Agüimes is very picturesque, however, there is not that much to do. I spent the afternoon walking around, awing and taking pictures of alleys and well-maintained houses and many statues telling stories about the town’s history and culture. Then, the next morning, I wanted to walk to the famous Barranco de las Vacas, a gorge with rock formations as beautiful as in Utah.

And then it happened. I broke a leg.

This Way to the Whole Story ->

Language Learning in Izmir

Posted onAuthorRenata Green25 Comments

Since my two weeks of educational vacation in Rome were of such great personal gain, two years later it was time to go back on the language horse. After many hours in front of the computer screen talking in rudimentary Turkish to a learning program, I decided to give Izmir a shot.

Nestled between palm trees and lamp posts: Izmir proudly presents the Saat Kulesi - its major tourist attraction.
Nestled between palm trees and lamp posts: Izmir proudly presents the Saat Kulesi – its major tourist attraction.
This Way to the Whole Story ->