-
Auckland, Devonport – the fort that never fired… and the fake news that built it
It takes barely a few minutes to ride a ferry from central Auckland to Devonport – a place that seems to exist in a completely different reality. Devonport lies between two extinct volcanoes that not only shaped its history but also perfectly symbolise it. At first glance, it looks like a calm, almost sleepy Auckland suburb: wooden houses, cafés, restaurants, kids fishing in the bay with Auckland’s skyscrapers in the background… but that’s just the surface. Beneath it lies a turbulent past that once made Devonport one of the most strategic locations in the region. Right next to the ferry terminal rises Mount Victoria, an 87-metre volcanic cone. It may…
-
Central Albania – Cape Rodon, Durrës and Tirana
I started the route towards central Albania in the town of Teth. The first point of my trip was Cape Rodon, also known as the Cape of Skanderbeg. This is definitely a place you must visit while being in Albania. Actually, I could point out three reasons why it’s worth coming here. The first are bunkers, which I wrote about here. The second one is the castle built by Skandenberg in 1452, to defend against the Ottoman Empire. Although it was a hiding place for Skandeberg for a while during the siege of Kruja in 1466, it was destroyed by the Turks only a year later. Currently, only the remains…
-
Malta – The Fortress Island, Girl on the urbex trail!
Malta is called the “Fortress Island.” At first glance, it’s evident that the island’s architecture has a defensive character. High fortifications, citadels, and forts are reminiscent of the times of the Knights of Malta as well as the British era. Throughout its history, Malta was under the rule of the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Arabs, Normans, Aragonese, Crusaders, French, and British. Finally, it became an independent country only in 1964. Today, we can see numerous traces from the times of the Knights of Malta, as well as from the period of World War II. The Knights of Malta gained control over Malta in 1530 from Charles V of Spain. From that…
-
Mysterious Objects in Brzeznica Kolonia – a Nuclear Inferno in Poland?
The forest in Brzeznica-Kolonia at first glance seems to be a peaceful place, ideal for trips and relaxation in nature. However, few people realise that it hides a dark secret from the Cold War era. At that time, the existence of this place was a closely guarded secret, as there was a Soviet military base located here. Under the agreement signed in 1967 between the USSR and the Polish People’s Republic, three nuclear weapon storage facilities were built in Poland. These facilities were constructed as part of a program code-named “the Vistula” which aimed to use tactical nuclear weapons in the event of an attack by NATO countries. The bunkers…
-
9 and a half reason to visit Gothenburg
Islands, islets and red houses So the Southern Archipelago in the flesh. Hop on a ferry and admire a typical Swedish countryside. Islands like: Asperö, Donsö, Styrsö, Vrangö and Brännö, surprise by their gaunt landscape as well as typical Swedish wooden red buildings. It doesn’t matter which direction you choose, the last letter ö in the name is essential 😉 2. Take a walk along the dock It’s worth taking a short walk along the dock, where you can visit floating museum. 3. Have a rest in the shade of palms Palm House, located in the strict city center is a cultish meeting place. Certainly there’re a lot of reasons why, but…
