Fritz Hummel (right) and Muhammad developed a father-son relationship, based on Hummel’s earlier trips to Syria and the warm welcome he was given there. Photo by Mark Baker.
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About the author
Mark Baker
I’m an independent journalist and travel writer who’s lived in Central Europe for more than two decades. I love the history, literature, culture, and mystery of this often-overlooked corner of Europe, and I make my living writing articles and guidebooks about the region. Much of what I write eventually finds its way into commercial print or digital outlets, but a lot of it does not.
That's my aim with this travel website: to find a space for stories and experiences that fall outside the publishing mainstream.
You’ll find a mix of stories here. Some will be familiar “what to see and do” travel articles on particular destinations. Others will be tales of “adventure” (usually with a comic twist) from life on the road. I'll also share tips about living in my adopted hometown of Prague and stories from a more-distant (but seemingly ever-present) past, when Central Europe was the “Eastern bloc” and I was a full-time journalist trying my best to cover it. I hope you enjoy.