1959. A long, long time ago. After having spent one year in London, I returned to a depressed European economy. Returning to my home town (Braunschweig), I was lucky finding employment as Head of the information and documents department with the then DFL (Deutsche Forschunganstalt für Luftfahrt), later became the DLR – Deutsche Luft- und Raumfahrt [ https://www.dlr.de/content/de/standort/braunschweig.html ]. [ https://airports-worldwide.com/germany/braunschweig_germany.htm ]
Exciting, because all of this would eventually lead to my life long love for the space research and technology field, specializing in information retrieval systems.
By 1961 I left for Munich to work as Head Information department with the ZLDI. Mainly to establish documents databases and information retrieval systems, in cooperation with NASA (US National Aeronautics & Space administration; formerly NACA – 1915-1958). [ https://www.nasa.gov/ ]
In 1965 I left my homeland for The Netherlands, to start work for ESTEC (European Space Research & Technology Centre, Nordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands. [ https://www.esa.int/About_Us/ESA_history/Key_dates_1960-2018 ][ https://www.esa.int/About_Us/ESTEC/ESTEC_European_Space_Research_and_Technology_Centre ]. The largest center within the newly to form European Space Agency. There I was responsible to establish the first online information retrieval network for the European Space program. Largely in cooperation with NASA, who had already substantial databases of documents. [ https://www.esa.int/About_Us/ESA_history/Key_dates_1960-2018 ]. 1967 my son was born. I do remember 1969 – the flight to the moon. Because my own husband was still working for ESTEC and he had the chance to be present at one of the collaborative space launch ops at Vandenberg Airforce Base, California [ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vandenberg_Air_Force_Base ]
We left Europe in Fall of 1974. Myself, completing a graduate program in Information Studies (Science and Technology) at Syracuse University, NY, USA. [ https://ischool.syr.edu/academics/library-and-information-science-masters-degree/ ]. After my graduation by Spring 1976, we both ended up in Alberta, Canada. As a result of the 1970s world wide economic depression. No possibilities returning to international professional jobs.
Much later, my son through his studies also got into this very exciting field, by first completing a technical program in Alberta, Canada, then continuing his studies for his Master of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. [ https://catalog.ua.edu/graduate/engineering/aerospace-mechanics/ ].
In Canada, despite having spent most of my professional working life in Alberta’s oil industry and other tech jobs (mostly computer systems development and installation), there is nothing more exciting than the field and subject of aerospace science, technology, and engineering.
When my son still resided in the United States, I visited him a lot. From Alabama we traveled to Mississippi, Louisiana, the Gulf Coast. Alabama – the heartland of the early US rocket programs. Wernher von Braun – instrumental in those early efforts, and very much respected in Huntsville, AL.
[ http://encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-2349 ]. We visited the Huntsville Space & Rocket Center, Alabama [ http://encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-2349 ]. These rockets are real. And they are huge – look at the Saturn 5. [ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturn_V ].
Today I like to keep informed about world wide international space programs. Canada itself is very much involved. {NOTE. In fact I have invested in one of our Canadian space corporations [ https://magellan.aero/ ], and subscribing to [ https://spaceq.ca/ ]
Coffee – Cafe – Kaffee
COFFEE – CAFE – KAFFEE
2020 the best year of my life, with a world wide pandemic, virus here, there and everywhere. What’s a person to do to have at least a feeling of a social life, especially if you are alone. Often I go out (in fact daily) for a walk, or take my bicycle, to the park, sit down, have a coffee. Better, yet, sit somewhere in one of the newly created outdoor cafes. Even sitting alone at a table feels better than sitting alone at home. YUK !
Coffee for many years has become an important part of my traveling life. In Europe, and on the continent. Victoria, BC, Vancouver Island: Although I have not tested all cafes, some are good, some not so, some are too expensive for the quality of coffee.
A decent cup for C$2.00 is pretty good. Murchies, 100 year old pattissery and eating place downtown. Not bad. Crust Bakery on Fort C$ around 2.00, also, but must sit outside, lots of street traffic. Other places (being that Starbucks closed down a lot) can go anywhere from C$2.50 to even over C$up to 4.00. Too expensive. My Italian shop in Victoria, on Blanchard, has the best Italian imports, everything (dozens of different panettones during Xmas season), and also a little corner cafe to sit. Regular coffee not so strong, espresso, Americano good. Prices good. [Reminds me of my Panettoni story: During Xmas 2015 went to Italy, from Cannes, bought a big Italian Panettoni, took it home to Canada in my suitcase.]. Yet, nothing beats a good Weihnachtsstollen.
While traveling in France, spending three months in Cannes, Mediterranean, ordering a coffee/cafe would always mean tiny cute little Espresso, good, but one shot. Netherlands, where I worked and lived for eight years is different again: You want to find a Cafe to sit down for a coffee ? Unless you intend to smoke pot or get some cannabis, those places are the ones. Real cafes bakeries for a coffee and dessert are bakeries (bakkerij patisserie). Germany, Berlin: There is a tiny historically old section, the Nikolaiviertel, one can sit down outside, have wonderful coffee, mostly coffee implies a little can, and have a cake. [Founded about 1200, the Nikolaiviertel of Alt-Berlin, together with the neighbouring settlement of Cölln, is the reconstructed historical heart of the German capital Berlin.]
St. Petersburg, Russia, is huge, a wonderful city. Near the Neva strolling along the Nevsky Prospect down to the landing dock for ships going to Finland, found a nice little restaurant, have a coffee. Good.
[Every morning I make my own cappuccino in my old-fashioned Italian Espresso machine.]. Continue enjoy, as long as you look at each other from the distance.