2010 › May

Explorers prepare to sail around the North Pole

by Kraig Becker on

In a few weeks time, Norwegian explorers Borge Ousland and Thorleif Thorleifsson will set out on a daring expedition in an attempt to become the first people to sail around the North Pole, a feat that has only become possible in recent years thanks to global climate change. The two men will have to successfully navigate both the Northeast and Northwest Passages if they want to accomplish their goal.

Ousland is a well known polar explorer, who has visited both the North and South Pole by skis in his numerous cold weather adventures. Thorleifsson is more at home on the water, being a very experienced sailor, and will be the captain of the small sailing ship they will use on their voyage.

The plan is to set off on June 21st, and sail for the Northeast Passage, which fully opens up for navigation in August. That route runs through the ice filled waters of the Arctic Ocean north of Russia. Once they have completed that part of the journey, they’ll then take on the Northwest Passage, which runs across the northern region of Canada. At one time, both of these routes we considered unnavigable, but thanks to global warming, the ice now breaks up more fully, allowing ships to pass through.

There are a number of obstacles that Ousland and Thorleifsson will have to face on their journey. For instance, the ice flows will be very unpredictable, and they’ll need to rely on satellite imaging to help find their way. On top of that, they’re using a small ship that is quick and light, but won’t allow them to carry too many supplies with them, and although it has been retrofitted with Kevlar to help protect it against the ice, its hull is none too thick. The two men have also had to deal with Russian bureaucracy, which is never an enjoyable prospect, but a similar expedition was halted last year when the ship didn’t have the proper paperwork to pass through Russian waters.

The journey is expected to take four months to complete, and they’ll be covering roughly 10,000 miles in the process. Once they get underway, you’ll be able to follow along with their progress and adventures on Ousland’s blog, which can be found by clicking here.

[Photo Credit: http://www.ousland.no/]

Photo of the Day (5.30.10)

by Jeremy Kressmann on

Whoa. That was the first thing that came to mind when I looked at Flickr user Bryson Gilbert’s photo of City Hall in Toronto. It’s not just the vertigo-inducing angle – I also love the choice of black and white, which accentuates the curves, shadows and lines of the buildings. It almost looks like the facades of these two structures are the wings of some giant insect, preparing to take flight. Here’s to the photographers that help us to take a second look at familiar landmarks.

Have any great architecture photos you’ve taken during your travels? Why not share them with us by adding them to our Gadling group on Flickr? We might just pick one of yours as our Photo of the Day.

Russian man builds his own subway

by Jeremy Kressmann on

Building and maintaining a subway is complicated. Cities like New York and London have spent well over a hundred years creating and expanding their extensive public transport systems, spending billions of dollars in the process. None of this seems to have dissuaded Russian citizen Leonid Murlyanchik from building himself his own personal metro beneath his home since 1984.

The site English Russia provides us with an intriguing photo look inside Leonid’s strange quest to build his own one-man transportation system. The photos actually raise more questions than they answer. Why is Leonid building his own subway? Where will it take the passengers? None of that is clear. What we do know is that Leonid has paid for the construction using his pension and all construction has been approved by city permits. Leonid apparently hopes to connect the system to his neighbors as well.

Is Mr. Murlyanchik’s project a hopeless, stupid waste of time? Some would probably say yes. But those people are also missing the point. Sure, as transportation systems go, this one is a non-starter. But think of this “subway to nowhere” instead as a bizarrely wonderful work of art. The world’s greatest roadside attractions or Italian-style pink palaces rarely make logical sense. Perhaps it’s best we admire them that way – simply as projects created to inspire our awe and wonder.

Naples celebrates national pride at the Romeo Hotel

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Will you be one of the thousands of people to hit the National Pride Festival in Italy this year? Naples is hosting the event this time around, and the Romeo Hotel wants you to check in. Whether you’re drawn to tradition or contemporary fun, the Napoli Pride Package will have something to turn you on.

Stay at the Romeo Hotel, and you’ll score a room for two with views of Mt. Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples (or the city center), strawberries and prosecco upon arrival and a buffet breakfast daily. The package is available from June 21 – 28, 2010, with rates starting at 475 euro.

Both Montagues and Capulets are welcome.

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Get your third night in Paris Free

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Make 2010 the year you go to Paris. For most of the year, you can stay at the Hotel Beauchamps, in the 8th Arrondissement, and get your third night free. Over your three-night stay, you’ll save an average of 92 euro a night, which can certainly get you started at many of the city’s fantastic restaurants.

The Hotel Beauchamps is an interesting property, not far from the Champs Elysées and located between Rue du Faubourg St Honoré and Montaigne Avenue. If you have a jones for shopping, especially, this is the place to be. The intimate hotel has only 89 rooms on six floors, all of which have views onto Rue de Ponthieu, Rue Du Colisée or the courtyard.