Author Archives: Kiki Maraschino

About Kiki Maraschino

I like catfish. Sure, we all like catfish, but I think for me it is somehow deeper.

Ich Bin Ein Berliner: Now I Got a Reason

Posted on August 1, 2020 by Kiki Maraschino

Remember when cabbies used to know their city better than anyone? They could take you to the best steakhouse and knew every shortcut to the airport. They could even get you hookers and blow, or so i have been told. … Continue reading →

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Ich bin ein Berliner: Saturday: Off to Market

Posted on July 30, 2020 by Kiki Maraschino

This morning as I headed out for the day at the crack of noon, as my dad used to say, i chatted with an Italian couple who had just arrived. After i set out for the street market a young … Continue reading →

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Ich bin ein Berliner: Monsterkabinet is Awesome!

Posted on July 27, 2020 by Kiki Maraschino

If you ever find yourself in Berlin, you absolutely must go to Monsterkabinet. It was the most creative and fun attraction I have ever seen. It is something of a cross between a haunted house and an art exhibit. It … Continue reading →

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I amsterdam: Dutch Culture

Posted on January 23, 2020 by Kiki Maraschino

I have 2 questions whenever I arrive at a new place. Question 1. Can you jaywalk? Yes. But cars and bikes will run you over–even if you are in a crosswalk! Between the street and the bike lane, it is … Continue reading →

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Off to Rotterdam, Dammit!

Posted on July 7, 2018 by Kiki Maraschino

The train station in Haarlem was beautiful, with mosaics that looked almost socialist. There was some confusion in the Haarlem ticket office about how my Eurail pass worked. I had to run back and forth between the office and the … Continue reading →

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I amsterdam: Touristing in the City

Posted on July 1, 2018 by Kiki Maraschino

On Sunday I wasn’t planning on doing too much, but the sun was out for the first time since I arrived and I couldn’t waste it. We take our sunshine for granted in Southern California. I decided to take a … Continue reading →

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I amsterdam: Just Hangin’ in Haarlem

Posted on June 18, 2018 by Kiki Maraschino

I wanted to stay local and do some laundry on Saturday, so I found a laundromat and stuffed my clothes in the reusable grocery bag I had bought at the market. If you ever do want to “blend in” with … Continue reading →

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I amsterdam: Stedelijk Museum

Posted on June 15, 2018 by Kiki Maraschino

Mechanical flowers installation at Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam from Studio Drift After Banksy, I went to check out the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam’s modern art museum. As pretty as they are, I did not fall down these stairs. They are featuring an … Continue reading →

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I amsterdam: A Day at the Museums

Posted on June 11, 2018 by Kiki Maraschino

Friday was a cloudy day, and after another breakfast of eggs benedict I headed to the museums. I took the city bus, and the driver yelled at me for not understanding that you need a special card to wave in … Continue reading →

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I amsterdam: Arrival in Haarlem

Posted on June 10, 2018 by Kiki Maraschino

I checked into my hotel in Harlaam, Carlton Square Hotel, late Wednesday night. The hotel is nicer and more boutiquey than I could tell from the website. The bed is so soft and cozy and the bathtub is huge. The hotel is … Continue reading →

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Freak Valley Fest in Germany: Another European Adventure Begins

Posted on June 9, 2018 by Kiki Maraschino

After visiting Italy last year, I figured it would be years before I had another opportunity to travel. It’s really expensive. But then Bob’s band got scheduled to play a festival in the western part of Germany and built a … Continue reading →

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Arrivederci Roma! Trastavere

Posted on June 9, 2018 by Kiki Maraschino

My friends recommended the Trastevere neighborhood, so I got a room there for my last night in Rome. They loved the area and wanted to move there. I could instantly see why. It was the first place I visited where the … Continue reading →

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Italy: Pompeii Where is All the Porn?

Posted on May 31, 2018 by Kiki Maraschino

When Pompeii was first being excavated, one of the scientists noticed that some of the earth was soft, like ashes. On a hunch he poured plaster into those spots and they came out people-shaped. Much later after X-rays came into … Continue reading →

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Italy – Pompeii: Non Me Toca!

Posted on March 2, 2018 by Kiki Maraschino

Sometime in the early 90s i had to write an essay about pornography, so i wrote about Pompeii. Ever since, I have wanted to visit these historic ruins. Since I wasn’t into the guided tour of the Vatican, i decided … Continue reading →

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Italy: She’s Gone to Capri and She’s Not Coming Back

Posted on April 21, 2017 by Kiki Maraschino

When I was little, there was an ad for Capri Cigarettes showing an elegant woman on a balcony smoking and staring off into the distance with the tagline, “She’s gone to Capri and she’s not coming back.” That ad enchanted … Continue reading →

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