Sophie’s World

My attention was brought to this website about GeoEye’s IKONOS satellite and 10 interesting examples of satellite views of ancient observatories from around the world.  

With 7 or 8 of the 10 in the Americas (depending on how you’d classify Easter Island), I wouldn’t be so quick to call it “around the world”. Where’s China? The Middle East? Japan? India? Australia? Africa? Where’s Karnak and Abu Simbel? Where’s Jianguomen Bridge in Beijing, Jaipur in India, Kokino in Macedonia, Gotland in Sweden or Newgrange in Ireland, the oldest of them all? 

Here are the ten:

[read on]

I’m off to Srpska. After the end of the Bosnian war and the Dayton Accord, Bosnia & Herzegovina was divided into two political entities; 51 % of the territory for Croats and Bosniaks and 49 % for Serbs. The latter is Srpska.

Fortunately, there’s no chance of bumping into Srpska’s horrid first president, as he’s behind bars – or at least locked up in a comfortable cell – in the UN detention centre in Scheveningen where he’ll face genocide charges – and about time, too. But enough about the Dr Evil. (Why does the fact that he’s a psychiatrist make his crimes seem even more sinister?) 

[read on]

30 June 2008 Billund is a tiny Danish town which seems to be living and breathing Lego. OK, so that's not entirely true. There's also a small town centre with a few shops and some creative outdoor art, especially fountains - ... [Continue reading this entry]

My article on Skopje is live here