Travels through History – France

Extract from the book ‘Travels through History : France” available here Catharism was an austere religion following the gnostic philosophy of God and Satan as two separate beings – God was associated with purity and Satan with every aspect of evil. Catharism encouraged its followers to adopt asceticism and celibacy even after marriage. Those whoContinue reading “Travels through History – France”

Travels through History – France

Extract from the book ‘Travels through History : France” available here Catharism was an austere religion following the gnostic philosophy of God and Satan as two separate beings – God was associated with purity and Satan with every aspect of evil. Catharism encouraged its followers to adopt asceticism and celibacy even after marriage. Those whoContinue reading “Travels through History – France”

Gdansk – 6

In 1956, Nikita Khruschev’s address to the 20th Convention of the USSR’s Communist Party spoke of strengthening socialism’s grip on the East, and of the dangers of individualism. Already simmering with discontent the Polish media helped stir local discord and on June 28th a strike started in the Stalin brick factory (later the ‘Hipolita CegielskiegoContinue reading “Gdansk – 6”

Gdansk – 5

The exhibits then contrast the ordinary nature of some people’s lives with the extraordinary events taking place in the Communist countries of the Eastern Bloc. Some events such as the Hungarian uprising of 1956 when Imre Nagy withdrew his country from the Warsaw Pact, the raising of the Berlin Wall on 13th August 1961, andContinue reading “Gdansk – 5”

Gdansk – 4

I rarely use audio guides, but I must recommend them at the European Solidarity Centre as the information provided was clear, concise, and fitted in almost perfectly with what I saw. This may seem obvious but there is so much information to process that you have to concentrate all the time during the visit. InContinue reading “Gdansk – 4”

Gdansk – 3

I stayed at a hotel close to the station as I was moving on by train to Torun in a couple of days. Rather than heading to the reconstructed Old Town I first walked to a large monument visible over the tops of the trees and buildings. Anchors were suspended at the top of threeContinue reading “Gdansk – 3”

Gdansk – 2

Gdansk airport is named after Lech Walesa and if visitors don’t know much about this man before they arrive then they will know a lot by the time they leave, especially if they visit the European Solidarity Centre, which is about 500 metres from Gdansk Glowny by the entrance to the shipyards.This museum is anContinue reading “Gdansk – 2”

Gdansk – 1

The trains run from Gdansk airport to the main station, Gdansk Glowny, every 15 –  30 minutes depending on the time of day. Visitors should follow the red arrows from the west end of Terminal T2 via a covered bridge to the platform where the ticket machines are found. The station is called Port LotniczyContinue reading “Gdansk – 1”

This candle has seen better days

The candle is like the love of your life; you light the fire in the darkness and it burns brightly, warming you, and casting everything in subtle tones. But then the love starts to gradually melt, flowing like saltless tears, drowning the flame until the fire is out. Everything sets. Hard. But, if you’re lucky,Continue reading “This candle has seen better days”

NWW Photo Prompt – The HSBC Stradivarius

When a rich investor comes to HSBC to ask how to shelter their money in a certain European country, beginning with an ‘S’, ending in a ‘D’, and containing the word ‘wit’, the tax adviser immediately calls the company musician, whose previous role was lead violinist with a famous orchestra. She takes the Stradivarius outContinue reading “NWW Photo Prompt – The HSBC Stradivarius”