Monthly Archives: January 2024
Tuesday Train – Loco at Bukhara Station in Uzbekistan
My 2018 visit to Turkmenistan & Uzbekistan is up there with my favourite ever trips. Train was to be our transport of choice in the latter with fast trains connecting the main cities. First up was to be Bukhara (my favourite place in Uzbekistan) to Samarkand. I took the picture below as we expectedly waited […]
Tuesday Train – Iron Ore Train in Narvik, Norway
Millions of tonnes of iron ore are exported every year from Sweden via Norway. The reason? Sweden’s Baltic coastline freezes in Winter and therefore the ice-free Norwegian port on the North Sea is vital to continue trade. Each laden train can weigh up to a staggering 8,600 tonnes with the lore-class locomotives pulling 68 trucks. […]
Tuesday Train – Lulea in Sweden
This was to be the first leg of us traversing the whole Iron Ore Line from Lulea to the ice-free port of Narvik. We were going as far as Gallivare, to then continue 2-days later. We hadn’t figured on track problems however, ending up only getting as far as Boden and then having to take […]
Sunday Photo – The Philanderer, Banksy Museum in Paris
The Banksy museum near Montmartre is a homage to the mysterious British street artist. Reproductions of many of his famous creations are recreated in an old industrial building. I think this one is my favourite.
Tuesday Train – Kosovo
This picture is taken in 2017 at Hani I Elezit at the end of the then only operating train in Kosovo from Pristina close to the border with North Macedonia. You can read about my time in Pristina and the train journey I undertook at this link. If this whets your appetite, you can read […]
Sunday Photo – Ashgabat Grand Mosque, Turkmenistan
My 2018 visit to Turkmenistan remains one of my most memorable ever. The capital of Ashgabat on the edge of the Karakum Desert was bathed in white marble and gold, typified by the Grand Mosque.
Friday Photo – Streetwise Filipino Kids
On my recent visit to the Philippines I was struck by the happiness & friendliness of the people. Many don’t have much but are content with their lot. Family is the most important element for these hard-working, God-fearing people. In every town school is a focal point, often being the largest building in town. The […]
Tuesday Train – Narvik in Norway
The picture is from January 2018 as we took the train to Abisko just inside the Swedish border. The line forms part of the Iron Ore Line between the ice-free port of Narvik and the mines of Gallivare & Lulea in Sweden, whose Baltic port is frozen in winter.
2023 Gone, 2024 Beckons
Somewhere in 2023 I lost my blogging/writing mojo. However, my wanderlust was alive and kicking! Hopefully I will get back on the scribing saddle in 2024, but here is a quick summary of travels in the past year, plus one or two to come. 2023 April – Rhodes 24 years after we were engaged in […]
