The Imperial Hotel is an absolute knock-out. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, it is obviously beautiful. But everything about the place is first-class. The Japanese toilet with heated seat had all the buttons that make water spray into the right places and then it had an arm that offered warm air to drive those delicate […]…
About: William Holstein
Author Archives: William Holstein
Travel notes: The Japanese Countryside–Nagano and Kamakura
JULY 2010– Flying in to Haneda Airport is an entirely different experience than landing at remote Narita airport, which is located in a largely agricultural area two hours north of central Tokyo. The plane circles over Tokyo Bay, offering the traveler a panoramic view of the Tokyo skyline. It is a vast city, one of […]…
Who’s For Puerto Rican Independence?-
OLD SAN JUAN, January 6, 2009—I came here for a break in the sun but, as often has been the case, I stumbled into a story. Better to be lucky than smart. A new governor, Luis Fortuno, has been elected and he was inaugurated during my stay. One of the planks of his candidacy was […]…
Why GM Matters: Inside the Race to Transform an American Icon
“Bill Holstein is an extremely knowledgeable and perceptive journalist. At a time when GM and the domestic auto industry are in acute crisis, this book makes sense of what has happened–and what should happen next. It’s a must-read for anyone who cares about the future of the American auto industry” — Alex Taylor, Senior Editor, […]…
Germany, 2008
APRIL 2008 — I’m on the Inner-City Express (ICE) headed for Paris. I got on one train headed south from Frankfurt and then changed trains in Mannheim. This train is making a direct shot for Paris, stopping in a few places like Kaiserslautern and Saarbrucken (both of which sound like kinds of cole slaw.) Judging […]…
