motoring and aviation
I was keen to do some hiking during my time in Crete, and thought the Dikti Mountains in the east of the island looked like a good place to start. After picking up a map from a hiking store in Heraklion, and doing a little touring on the way, I was ready to set out for a few days walking in the mountains. After heading west from Ieraptera, I wound my way up the freakishly steep mountains to the little…
AIRSPACE AND THE SPACE RACE I’ve always been a bit partial to aviation history, and when I heard that Plovdiv was home to Bulgaria’s National Aviation Museum I was keen to have a look. After a few dramas trying to find the correct platform for my train, I rode to Mavrudovo Station and piled out. A short walk and I arrived at the gates of the Aviation Museum, which had a decidedly Eastern Bloc feel. When I arrived at the…
Hatchback In The USSR Right next to Varna’s bus station is the city’s Grand Mall; a modern shopping centre full of brand name stores and teenagers whiling away their summer school holidays. Somewhat strangely, it is also home to Varna’s Retro Museum, a treasure trove of soviet-era cars and memorabilia. Now that’s gotta be worth a look. After handing over my Lev I entered the museum, and I have to say it was pretty impressive. There are over fifty cars…
CRUISING WITH THE KING IN AMMAN King Hussein bin Talal ruled Jordan from 1952, when he was not yet 17 years old, until his passing in 1999 at age 63. The King had a love of cars, motorcycles and motorsport, and not being short of a few dinars built a staggering collection of vehicles during his reign. The Royal Automobile Museum in Amman, Jordan, displays King Hussein’s impressive collection, and being a bit partial to cars and bikes myself I…
The good news came by text that our Covid-19 quarantine period had been revised, and we were to be released a day early. We were itching to get off the boat and back on terra firma – the Skipper to catch up with a friend and me to head down to El Djem for some exploring. The morning of our release we walked down to the police station, which was attached to the marina complex, to retrieve out passports. The…
Despite seldom having the space to shift out of third gear, the Maltese do like their cars. In addition to the usual stock of small, mass produced modern hatchbacks, there are some classic cruisers and high performance cars to be seen out on the streets. Despite most Maltese seldom having the space to park even a single car, one bloke decided to create the Malta Classic Car Museum. I thought I’d have a look. I rode the bus to the…
‘Sunday, Monday, Happy Days…’ One thing the Kiwis do very well is preserve their past. The Rainy Isles contain many world class museums, including a number helping to preserve New Zealand’s motoring heritage. I’m a bit partial to looking at old vehicles, and recently visited the Classics Museum in Hamilton, an amazing place chock full of cars and memorabilia. There was plenty of 50’s style, chrome and shine on display. Car museums often contain not only the spectacular, the sporty…