#maritime routes

[mapsontheweb]

The new shipping route for Ukrainian grain after Russia refused to renew the UN grain agreement

[rhianna]

East, W. Gordon (William Gordon). (1950). An historical geography of Europe. [4th ed.] New York: Dutton.

[mycupofstars]

You know you’re in for a good doomed polar voyage when it opens with a map that looks like a fucking etch a sketch

[rainerbayer]

rb's Free Rider's Motorcycle Memories (2 / oo)

On the Route des Grandes Alpes (Maritime Alps, France) – and some thoughts on the age of 60

First picture: Me and my Triumph Tiger Sport 1050 on a pass on the Route des Grandes Alpes towards Nice via Valley of Isere (Val d'Isere): Col d'Allos.

With my type of motorcycle clothing 8-) , it was also possible to hike up to the managed lake d'Allos (Lac d'Allos) without any problems. It's about 30 minutes (one way) from the parking lot further up, which is subject to a fee in the high season. The path runs partly on a rocky track next to the meandering stream bed. The path is marked with information boards explaining the formation of the stream and the peculiarities of the lake and its surroundings.

However, I don't want to give a description of the Maritime Alps (discover them for yourself!), but rather make a few comments on how traveling by motorcycle has changed for me with age.

So, let's go back to the first picture: A good 10 years ago in a somewhat freer and simpler world (also for motorcyclists): less complicated, less regulated, more light-hearted than today.

When I was younger, I wished the journey would take forever, and I could well imagine living in this fantastic mountain world: right on the spot, so to speak, without the tedious approach route of hundreds of kilometers.

The latter is still the case today, although in view of developments in Europe, the question arises as to whether I am far enough away there from growing madness …

In the early years, I also savored the trip to the hilt and always returned well after midnight or in the early morning, usually in pouring rain.

Nowadays, at the beginning of my 6th decade of life, it's the growing feeling: "I'm here and it's still nice, the routes are still fantastic to ride; I've seen a lot again and also new things, but now it's also good to go home again". Today I usually stay overnight again on the route back - due to my age. One positive aspect of getting older is that the feeling of being back home becomes stronger. By "home" I mean the people and the landscape: the environment in which I grew up. People and landscape are interwoven in a special, almost mysterious way; a realization that takes time.

The last two pictures: So I usually come back in the early evening nowadays. If the weather is not too bad, I take off my luggage and immediately cycle up a few more 10 kilometers to our "small" mountain and forest landscape here; in good weather bathed in the almost golden light of the evening sun in late summer and early autumn. And I am enjoying our narrow mountain roads through our mixed forests, our green meadows and our gentle to rugged (steep) slopes of the vineyards.

Here it is the south of Baden-Württemberg, Germany, not the "far" south of europe. It is not the fantastic mountain and rock world of the Alps with its (drivable!) passes up to over 2700 m altitude, its deeply carved gorges, its mountain lakes and streams, its alpine farming areas, its often grotesque and "dangerously" narrow roads, with their different people, their slightly different way of life. (You see, I'm already starting to miss that again.)

But it's my home and it feels good to be back.

And to get ready again for the next trip.

(Tanslated from German with DeepL - free version.)

[htwilde]

‘I have been keeping alright only very miserable. I have had so much time this trip to think of my terrible loss no work of the ship to occupy my mind. If Pollie had only been spared to me how pleased she would have been to see me in this ship I had looked forward to so much to get command for her sake, so that she could have had an easier time with someone to look after the children. How I missed her nobody knows. I loved her so much Annie, and to be taken from me, it is too cruel to think of.’

Letter to Annie Williams (née Jones), sister in-law of Henry Wilde, 20th April 1911, onboard S.S. “Zeeland”

(source: Sincerely Harry by Michael Beatty)

[rrcraft-and-lore]

It's a bright sunny day (maybe???) and Egyptians sailors come across a shipwreck in the Red Sea. There is only one survivor. DUN. DUN. DUNNNNNNNNN. It is an Indian man. NAAAAAAAAAAAAANIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII? The Egyptians took him to the king's court in Alexandria.

The Indian sailor soon learned to speak Greek and offered his services by offering to help guide Egyptians ships to India -- good idea to the king, who commanded Eudoxus of Cyzicus- a greek sailor and trader.

The Indian sailor taught Eudoxus (say that 10 times fast...don't, I already hate typing it) the "secrets" of sailing using Indian monsoon winds and their patterns/directions in summer and winter and as you can imagine - kerboom. Egyptian and Indian maritime trade routes established. Eventually land routes followed and were developed from places such as Anatolia - watch towers began to pop up along the way, eventually Roman soldiers guarding ways.

Because bandits were a thing. So, what did India trade? Well, so damn much. Silverware, printed clothes, perfumes/scented oils, spices. Ice. Yes, mountain ice. Salts. Gems. Everything. And this trade benefitted India FAR more than the countries coming to it. Also coral. Yeah, that wasn't just for 2000's teens wearing it in necklaces. If you know...you know. Also, animals. There was a huge "Exotic" animal trade as well - tigers, rhinos, serpents were exported.

[kramlabs]

[cruiseandtravel]

Costa Cruises makes history in amazing Dubai with LNG Refuel

During its winter cruise season in the United Arab Emirates, Costa Smeralda, the flagship of Costa Cruises, marked a historic milestone by becoming the first cruise ship to refuel with Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) at the Port of Dubai. This groundbreaking operation was successfully completed on January 4, 2025, thanks to the logistical expertise of Monjasa and the support of the Dubai Port…

[saraichinwag]

Why Are Lighthouses Important?

[wild-wow-facts]

The Ancient Navigators of the Ocean

Discover the incredible world of sea turtles! From their epic migrations to unique adaptations, these ancient mariners are a marvel of nature.

Check out my other videos here: Animal Kingdom Animal Facts Animal Education

[mapsontheweb]

The north-east and the north-west passage at the Arctic.

by LegendesCarto

[goodoldbandit]

The Revolutionary Impact of the Compass: Navigating the World with Precision and Vision

https://gob.stayingalive.in/revving-up-knowledge-unveil/the-revolutionary-impact-of.html Discover how the invention of the compass revolutionized navigation, enhancing global exploration, and trade, and connecting distant lands with precision. The Compass: The modern compass, as a navigational tool, has a long history and its development spans different cultures. The earliest known discovery…

[just2bruce]

Red Sea ripples spread across trades

The repercussions of the Red Sea crisis have been longer-lasting and more severe than many shippers thought. Shippers expected delays proportional to the extra sailing time. They may have expected proportional cost increases as well. But they did not count on such factors as the extreme congestion in Singapore and in other ports. And in ports that have become pivotal, there are looming shortages…