Nobody expects the Czech Inquestion

The museum of Medieval Torture in Prague doesn't leave you in much doubt that it wasn't a good time to be a non-believer in the middle ages - or a woman frankly. Certainly not one who was good with herbs, or maybe had a wart on her nose. http://www.heartofeurope.cz/museum_6.html#torture

People were just so inventive at inflicting pain on other humans. And some of the things had for women! Jesus, only a man, and one who wasn't getting any, could have thought of those!

But the bloody-thirsty schoolboy in me sure enjoyed it! lol

Terezin Castle and Theresienstadt Ghetto

Theresienstadt Ghetto is the ghetto just outside Prague that the Nazis sent the local Jewish population to. Apparently over 160,000 souls disappeared through the gates and into the ghetto behind there. Terezin is the castle the the Gestapo took over, and the small village (of about 2000) became a ghetto for over 100,000. It has now been turned into a museum. There are walls just covered with photographs of the atrocities that were committed there. But the wall made up from Jewish childrens drawings is particularly heartbreaking.


The castle is still as the Nazis had it, right down to the gallows and bullet-ridden walls; and of course the legend over the gates "Work will set you free" - Bastards!!


Terezin has another claim to fame in history. It is the place the man who shot Arch-Duke Franz Ferdinand and started World War 1 was taken after his conviction.

Victoria Falls from the air

I've been a-scanning!



Done my photos from the stunning microlight flight I did over Victoria Falls in 2005, as well as our week long trip to Prague in 2001. Photos from Amsterdam 2003 and Sharm El Sheik in 2004 are sadly missing.


I lost my camera on one trip, and was in no fit state to take pictures on the other. I will let you guess which one is which.

;)

Montreal Olympics 1976

This years theme: - Peace and Unity with all the peoples of the world.
- Concrete


Ah, the 70's. How did your beautiful use of concrete and urban planning ever pass?

;)

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

A common theme from anyone in the UK who has seen my recent Canada pics, has been "We dont get proper snow anymore in England!"


Its true. Its pissing down today! Not Christmasy weather at all! So here's some snow for you all!

Ho Ho Ho and a Happy New Year

They followed a star

Happy Christmas, dear readers!

I hope you all had a good one, and Santa brought you all that you wanted :)

I got what I wanted for Christmas too; a Christmas with ALL my family. Looks like 2008 may turn out all right as well.

Peace on earth and goodwill to all men!

But boy, it was cold

We soft English are not used to really cold weather. But it was only minus 10.


They told me it gets to minus 40 in February! I dont know if I could cope with that lol

And the somewhere French speaking was......

Quebec! And a fantastic time was had!


I stayed in Montreal for a few days with my mate, then upto Lac Oiumert and Mont Tremblant for some skiing and even a Scandinavian Spa, complete with hottubs outside (at minus 10 and snowing!), and cold plunges that included the river at 2 degrees if you feel up for it lol And sauna that was at 94 degrees Fahrenheit!


A beautiful and interesting part of Canada. And most definately more French than not, lol. I couldn't recommend it more!

Bonnes fêtes

I'm off away for 12 days to somewhere cold and French speaking lol!

Hopefully should get some nice skiing done too, and lots of tasty food eaten. I'm in need of a break after all the fun of the past couple of months. Should be nice :)

Will be posting photos when Im back.

The wreck of the SS Thistlegorm

The Thistlegorm was a merchant navy transport ship that was sunk of the coast of Egypt in 1941.

The Thistlegorm set sail on her last voyage from Glasgow on 2 June 1941 destined for Alexandria. She was carrying supplies to relieve the 8th Army in preparation for Operation Crusader. As Germany controlled the Mediterranean sea during this period, the ship had to sail in a convoy around the Cape to the Red Sea. In September, Captain Ellis anchored north of the Straits of Gubal at what is now known as Shag Rock near Ras Muhammad National Park.

The Suez Canal at that time was closed as a result of a ship collision. For two weeks the ship stood moored at this supposedly safe position awaiting instructions to proceed through the canal. Thistlegorm was a sitting target for two German bombers returning from Crete. Allegedly they were searching for a large troop carrier when they ran low on fuel, turned home, and stumbled upon the Thistlegorm. They dropped two 1000 lb (450 kg) bombs directly onto the ship. These bombs penetrated No 4 Hold detonating much ammunition. The explosion killed nine crew members and was so forceful that it launched two railway locomotives stacked on deck into the air. They currently stand upright alongside the wreck at a depth of 33m / 108 feet.


Thistlegorm sank immediately, leaving no time for the crew to operate the lifeboats. Instead, they jumped into the water and were later rescued by the HMS Carlisle, another British ship moored nearby.

We dived the Thistlegorm in 2000. It has become a very busy dive site now unfortuntely. I suppose the thrill of sitting on a motorbike or in a jeep at 30 meters is too much for poeple.