Second and Below

I have never seen a Harry Potter film but I assume they look like they were filmed in Lübeck. It’s got medieval brick buildings, narrow streets, corridors leading to unknown destinations, etc. It’s a LARPer’s wet dream. Lübeck was unknown to me till I came to perform at the 2010 German National Poetry Slam in Hamburg. I tried to milk the free flight for all it was worth by booking a show in Lübeck the night before I had to be in Hamburg. I arrived late, went to the show, and left early the following morning. I only got glimpses of what this medieval city had to offer so when I was asked to perform there as part of the inaugural Spoken Word International Festival, I was bout it bout it.   Let’s start with the basics: Lübeck is located in the northwestern German state of Schleswig-Holstein. I bet you didn’t know Germany had states. Neither did I because I too am an ignorant American. Lübeck is about an hour, hour and a half from Hamburg. Like most German cities, Lübeck is ...

If I die having never climbed a mountain, I will consider it a life well lived. I don’t get the attraction. I do love me some mountains, I just have no desire to ascend them in a manner that requires oxygen tanks, ropes, or Sherpas. I’m more of a “chilling at base camp” kid of guy. This is why I love Luzern. Their slogan should be “Come Look at Pretty Shit Without Doing Shit”. Poetry has brought me to this Alpine city a few times. The first time was only for a day trip during the Christmas Market season. Christmas Markets are dope because I can eat pretzels and watch my friends get drunk on alcoholic tea at 2 in the afternoon. The second time was for the Woerdz Festival but us poets stayed outside of town and couldn’t do much except for what we were paid to do which is fair. This last trip was also for poetry but I made sure to fly in a day early to do some exploring. This was also a rare trip where I didn’t travel alone. I was accompanied  by my lad...