I’d be willing to bet that not many of you know what diopside is. Don’t feel bad though. Prior to our trip to Brazil, I didn’t know either. Diopside – chemical formula MgCaSi2O6 – is an industrial mineral used for everything from covering electrodes to absorbing oxygen in molten steel to helping contain nuclear waste. … Continue reading
It’s hard to find somewhere much more desolate than this – except perhaps Bouvet Island. “This” is in the middle of the Sahara desert in Sudan. It wasn’t always like this though as the petrified forest pictured below proves. Hard to find a greater contrast in a “now” and “then” scenario, isn’t it? Transiency is … Continue reading
The Cendere Bridge (also known as Severan Bridge, Chabinas Bridge or in Turkish: Cendere Köprüsü) is situated within the national park that contains Mount Nemrut. You wouldn’t go widely out of your way to see it, but if you are already visiting Mount Nemrut, it is worth checking out. The bridge is constructed of 92 … Continue reading
The proper spelling of “Meroe” is actually “Meroë” but I lack the ability to produce such a character with my keyboard and do not wish to “cut and paste” the proper spelling of the name in every time. Anyway, on to some background: Meroe served as the last capital of the Kushite Kingdom that based … Continue reading
While in Brazil, we spent the majority of our time based in the fishing village of Lagoa Azeda. Lagoa Azeda is very, very far off the tourist track which is just what we wanted. It is first and foremost a fishing village: I walked around the village when we first arrived to give you a … Continue reading
Maxim magazine recently voted Brazil as the “Hardest Holiday Destination” with the following explanation: Beautiful beaches, the land of silky football and home to the World Cup in 2014; it sounds like a perfect place to visit. According to Government travel advice, ‘Levels of violence and crime are high. Outbreaks of violence, particularly aimed at … Continue reading
The Velvet Rocket 