MarksWorldOfAdventure

Rue d'Aerschot, Brussels' Red Light District. Belgium, 06/10/22. @RobbieTravels

Martleaves Farm Campsite. Weymouth, Dorset, U.K. 29/06/2021

Petřín Lookout Tower. Walking down the 299 steps to the bottom. Prague, October, 2018

Tour of the Brussels Red Light District with @RobbieTravels

Exploring Wrocław Old Town and dwarf hunting. Poland, October, 2019

On the roof of the Katowice International Conference Centre. Poland, 22/10/20

Riding trams in Katowice, Poland. 21/10/20 Silesian Interurbans (Polish: Tramwaje Konurbacji Śląskiej), one of the largest tram systems in the world, has been in existence since 1894. The system is spread over more than 50 kilometres (east-west axis) and covers thirteen towns in the Upper Silesia metropolitan area (Southern Poland) and their suburbs (Katowice, the capital town of the region, Będzin, Bytom, Chorzów, Czeladź, Dąbrowa Górnicza, Gliwice, Mysłowice, Ruda Śląska, Siemianowice Śląskie, Sosnowiec, Świętochłowice, and Zabrze, until 2006 also in Piekary Śląskie and Wojkowice), which is densely industrialised (coal, coke, steel and other industries; though decreasing since the 1990s) and inhabited by more than two million people.

Glasvegas - Geraldine. Live at Kubix Festival (Rock and Indie), 16/07/22. Sunderland, U.K.

Checking out Oliwski Park and Oliwa Cathedral in Gdańsk. Poland, 21/06/23 The historic park was founded in the 15th century by the Cistercians as a monastery garden. The park is a very popular place for relaxation, picnic and enjoying its many sights. The present shape of the park was established in the 18th century and has remained almost unchanged until today. Its most famous part is the Baroque (French) garden in front of the Abbots’ Palace with intricately decorated flower beds and shrubs sculpted into geometric figures. The trimmed rows of linden trees also come from this period. They are formed into green walls around the pond and along the canal and together make the landscape axis known as the Princely View. The rest of the park consists of an English-Chinese garden with numerous water reservoirs and a Japanese garden, a gazebo and sculpted azaleas, and pine trees. Oliwa (Latin: Oliva; Kashubian: Òlëwa; German: Oliva) is a northern district of the city of Gdańsk, Poland. From east it borders Przymorze and Żabianka, from the north Sopot and from the south with the districts of Strzyża, VII Dwór and Brętowo, while from the west with Matarnia and Osowa. It is known for its medieval monastery with the Oliwa Cathedral, the 1627 Battle of Oliwa and the 1660 Treaty of Oliva. Oliwa is a part of the northern Polish city of Gdańsk. It is bordered on the east by the Bay of Gdańsk (Zatoka Gdańska), on the north by the town of Sopot, on the south by the boroughs of Wrzeszcz and Zaspa and on the west by the chain of hills and forest surrounding Gdańsk. Except for the 'old city' Oliwa encompasses the boroughs of Polanki, Jelitkowo, Przymorze and Żabianka. The population in 2004 was 19,824. The area is 18.23 km2 (7.04 square miles) with a population density of 1,087/km2 (2,820 per square mile). The landmark of Oliwa is the Cistercian-Cathedral complex with the Oliwa Cathedral, Baroque Abbot's Palace, Adam Mickiewicz Park, botanical garden and old granaries. The complex is listed as a Historic Monument of Poland.[2] The complex houses two branches of the National Museum in Gdańsk: the Department of Modern Art in the Abbot's Palace and the Ethnographic Department in one of the historic granaries. Other sights of Oliwa include the observation tower at the Pachołek Hill, the Gdańsk Zoo. Oliwa Cathedral It is not exactly known when Oliwa was established. Archaeological excavations suggest that the first settlement in this area was established in early Iron Age. The Cistercian Monks' tradition (unconfirmed by other sources) speaks of it as an early seat of power of the Pomeranian Princes. The name of this suspected burgh is unknown. The first mention of Oliwa dates to 1186 when the Cistercians established a monastery there. The Cistercian Monks named it Oliva, either derived from an older Slavic name or the biblical Mount of Olives or olive tree. The monks received a deed of ownership from Duke Sambor I of Pomerania in 1188. The deed encompassed a number of villages, including Oliwa which became a monastic village for long centuries to come. The village's history is directly linked to the development of the monastery. The village was raided by Old Prussians in 1224 (1226?) and 1234 (1236?) and by Teutonic Knights in 1246, 1247 and 1252. In 1308, the Polish coastal region was invaded by the Margraviate of Brandenburg, and in 1309 it was captured and occupied by the Teutonic Knights in 1309 after the Teutonic takeover of Gdańsk, however, Poland made attempts to regain the region. In 1350, the monastery suffered a fire. In 1433, there were incursions of Hussites during the Polish–Teutonic War of 1431–1435. In 1454, King Casimir IV Jagiellon reincorporated the territory to the Kingdom of Poland. The subsequent Thirteen Years' War ended in 1466 with a peace treaty, confirming the reincorporation of Oliwa to Poland. Oliwa was a private church village of the local monastery, administratively located in the Gdańsk County in the Pomeranian Voivodeship. In 1588, 1653 and 1709 Oliwa was hit by epidemics. During the Polish–Swedish War of 1626–1629, Oliwa was invaded by Sweden in 1626, and the Battle of Oliwa was fought nearby in 1627, considered one of the greatest victories in the history of the Polish Navy. Oliwa was invaded by Sweden once again in 1656, and the Swedish war against Poland ended with the Treaty of Oliwa signed in the village in 1660. Oliwa was devastation once again during the War of the Polish Succession in 1733–1734. As a result of the First Partition of Poland in 1772 Oliwa became part of Prussia, at that time it was inhabited by about 500 people and counting approximately 70 buildings. The Prussians confiscated all of the Cistercian Monks' possessions. The abbey prior received a salary and the monastery received financial reparations. In 1804 Oliva became an administrative headquarters for the surrounding villages and the administrator settled in the former abbey gatehouse.

Kraków Main Market Square. Poland, 21/10/20

Correct and incorrect way of climbing over a barbed wire fence. Protect your nutz at all costs. West Weares, Isle of Portland, U.K.

Checking out the Wrzeszcz district in Gdańsk and eating some vegan desserts at Fukafe vegan pastry and coffee shop. Poland, 21/06/23 After decades of neglect Wrzeszcz is truly on the up and is these days far more of a commercial centre than the centre of Gdańsk itself. This is where you’ll find the biggest shopping mall in Gdańsk (found in a 'Wrzeszcz Triangle' with two other smaller nearby shopping malls), a rapidly expanding, modern, business district, the home of Gdańsk University, the city’s newest large concert venue as well as 50,000 residents. While nowhere near as picturesque as Gdańsk old town, the area is not without its attractions and points of interest. Impossible to escape in this area are the students - it’s their youthful presence that can be thanked for the growing number of cafes, bars and restaurants. Wrzeszcz History The first thing that stands out about Wrzeszcz (pronounced v-zeh-sh-ch) is the name, which comes from the Polish word ‘wrzos’ meaning heather. First written mention of the area dates to 1261 when a settlement known as Vrieszt was to be found here. In 1412 the district was awarded to Gerd von der Beke, an ally of the Teutonic Knights, before moving into the hands of the Bischof family in the second half of the 16th century. By the 17th century local tycoon Zachariasz Zappio had acquired much of the property between what is today ul. Do Studzienki and ul. Słowackiego, building a palace there that proved grand enough for Polish king Jan III Sobieski to stay in back in 1677. It’s for this reason you’ll find nearby streets with regal connotations (Dolina Królewska - Royal Valley, and Królewski Potok - Royal Brook). You won’t find remains of the residence anymore, though one legacy of the past that survives to this day is the profusion of linden trees. It was the Bürgermeister Daniel Gralath who can claim credit for this, having commissioned the planting of four lanes of linden trees over a two-kilometre stretch flanking the main high-street. The project, which was realized between 1767 and 1770, set him back 100,000 guldens, which we can assume is a very large amount of money! The 18th century saw intense construction occur, most notably the Kuźnicki Manor House, complete with rooftop gardens touting footbridges, ponds and exotic plants. Wrzeszcz was becoming a fashionable area for those with cash to spare. In 1872, a tramline connecting the district to Gdańsk was added, while the early 20th century saw the construction of the Technische Hochschule (today Gdańsk Polytechnic) and the municipal hospital (now the medical academy). During the Free City of Danzig days Wrzeszcz’s population soared to 40,000 and it continued to serve as a home to the middle-classes, as well as unit of Prussian ‘Hussars of Death’. It was during this period that Nobel-prize winning writer Günter Grass was born here. His work was often based on the Langfuhr and Danzig of his childhood and his most famous work, The Tin Drum, is set in the district around the time he was growing up. The outbreak of WWII saw the main thoroughfare, today al. Grunwaldzka, re-christened to Adolf Hitlerstrasse, and while central Gdańsk was flattened by the end of the war, Wrzeszcz escaped lightly in comparison. The post-war years, however, saw Wrzeszcz gradually slip into obscurity, its once-grand houses left to rot. Today, while you'll see many neglected older buildings, there are streets such as ul. Wajdeloty that are being returned to their former glories thanks to public investment and the arrival of a younger, professional class attracted by the area's increasingly-trendy reputation. What to see in Wrzeszcz Modern day Wrzeszcz is effectively split into two by the main Gdansk-Gdynia railtrack and road. To the south you have old Wrzeszcz, birthplace of Günter Grass, and now an upcoming residential district with some cool bars and eateries. We'd recommend starting your visit by following in the footsteps of Günter Grass, which will give you the opportunity to see some of the old streets and get a sense of the pre-war Langfuhr. One key point of interest, not just for fans of the author, is the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church (on ul. Księdza Zator-Przytockiego), while staying with the religious theme there’s also the New Synagogue, one of the few remaining signs of Jewish history in the city. There is also Kuźnicki Park, which has benefited greatly from the area's transformation. To the north you have Galeria Baltycka shopping mall with its comprehensive range of big-name stores. The crowning glory of the area, however, is the revamped early 20th-century garrison buildings, which formerly belonged to the German Leibhusaren Brigade (Hussars). Today, it is aptly called 'Garnizon' - modernised brick buildings now used for cafes, bars, restaurants and concert venues, making this a fairly lively part of the area. For cut-price alcoholic adventures, hit up one of the student clubs at the the end of ul. Do Studzienki.

Eating at Bar Kefirek and trying the ice cream at Cukiernia Tajemniczy Ogród.Sopot, Poland. 21/06/23

Sopot Pier, marina, beach and town centre. Poland's Baltic coast. 21/06/23

Having a meal at Fish Land Restaurant, Erbil. 09/02/23. Iraqi Kurdistan https://g.page/fishland-restaurant-erbil https://www.facebook.com/FISHLANDRESTAURANT1

Checking out the night markets, street food stalls, and the bazaar. First impressions of the city and the people. 07/02/23. Iraqi Kurdistan

The Süleymaniye Mosque (Turkish: Süleymaniye Camii, pronounced [sylejˈmaːnije]) is an Ottoman imperial mosque located on the Third Hill of Istanbul, Turkey. The mosque was commissioned by Suleiman the Magnificent and designed by the imperial architect Mimar Sinan. An inscription specifies the foundation date as 1550 and the inauguration date as 1557. Behind the qibla wall of the mosque is an enclosure containing the separate octagonal mausoleums of Suleiman the Magnificent and his wife Hurrem Sultan (Roxelana). For 462 years, the Süleymaniye Mosque was the largest mosque in the city, until it was surpassed by the Çamlıca Mosque in 2019. The Süleymaniye Mosque is one of the best-known sights of Istanbul, and from its location on the Third Hill, it commands an extensive view of the city around the Golden Horn. History Elevation and plan published by Cornelius Gurlitt in 1912 Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent chose the architect Mimar Sinan to create a mosque in memory of his son Şehzade (Crown Prince) Mehmed. Suleyman was so impressed with the ensuing Şehzade Mosque (Şehzade Cami) that he asked Sinan to design a mosque for himself too. This mosque would represent the pre-eminence of the Ottoman Empire. In designing the Süleymaniye Mosque, Sinan took inspiration from the Hagia Sophia and the Bayezid II Mosque. The mosque was built on the site of the old palace (Eski Saray) of Topkapi which was still in use at the time and had to be demolished. The Arabic inscription above the north portal of the mosque is carved in Thuluth script on three marble panels. It gives a foundation date of 1550 and an inauguration date of 1557. In reality the planning of the mosque began before 1550 and parts of the complex were not completed until after 1557. The design of the Süleymaniye played on Süleyman's self-conscious representation of himself as a 'second Solomon.' It referenced the Dome of the Rock, which was built on the site of the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem, as well as Justinian's boast upon the completion of the Hagia Sophia: "Solomon, I have surpassed thee!" The Süleymaniye asserted Süleyman's historical importance although it was smaller in size than Hagia Sophia. The Süleymaniye was damaged in the great fire of 1660 and was restored by Sultan Mehmed IV. Part of the dome collapsed during the earthquake of 1766. Subsequent repairs damaged what was left of Sinan's original decoration (recent cleaning has shown that he experimented with blue, before making red the dominant colour of the dome). During World War I the courtyard was used as a weapons depot, and when some of the ammunition ignited, the mosque suffered another fire. Not until 1956 was it fully restored again. The mosque was restored again between 2007 and 2010. Parts of the surrounding complex continued to be restored in the decade following. Architecture Exterior Like the other imperial mosques in Istanbul, the entrance to the mosque is preceded by a forecourt with a central fountain. The courtyard is of exceptional grandeur with a colonnaded peristyle with columns of marble, granite and porphyry. The northwest facade of the mosque is decorated with rectangular Iznik tile window lunettes. It was the first building in which the Iznik tiles included the brightly coloured tomato red clay under the glaze. Four minarets occupy the four corners of the courtyard. The two taller ones have three galleries (serifes) and rise to a high of 63.8 m (209 ft) without their lead caps and 76 m (249 ft) including the caps. Four minarets were added to mosques endowed by a sultan (princes and princesses could construct two minarets; others only one). The minarets have a total of 10 galleries, which is said to reflect the fact that Suleiman I was the 10th Ottoman sultan. The main dome is 53 metres (174 feet) high and has a diameter of 26.5 metres (86.9 feet) which is exactly half the height.[13] When it was built, it was the highest dome in the Ottoman Empire, when measured from sea level, although it was still lower from its base and smaller in diameter than that of Hagia Sophia. Interior The interior of the mosque is almost a square measuring 59 metres (194 feet) in length and 58 metres (190 feet) in width, forming a single vast space. The dome is flanked by semi-domes, and to the north and south there are arches with tympana-filled windows, supported by enormous porphyry monoliths. Sinan embarked on a radical architectural innovation to mask the huge north–south buttresses needed to support these central piers - he incorporated the buttresses into the walls of the building, with half projecting inwards and half projecting outwards, and then hid the projections by building colonnaded galleries. There is a single gallery inside the structure, and a two-story gallery outside.

Hanging out at the Kabataş ferry terminal, checking out the palatial views of the Dolmabahçe Mosque and the Bosphorus Bridge, while two dogs shag next to me. Istanbul, Turkey. February, 2023

Eating the best Kurdish Food in Sulaymaniyah. 03/02/23. Iraqi Kurdistan

Hotel tour / review at Merci Hotel, Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan. 10/02/23

Eating Polish Food at Zapiecek, Długa 2, Warsaw, Poland. 06/05/22

Eating goat testicles, chicken and lamb skewers and checking out the Sulaymaniyah street food and night market scene. 02/02/23. Iraqi Kurdistan

Exploring Qaiwan Plus Mall in Qaiwan Towers, Sulaymaniyah. Iraqi Kurdistan, 02/02/23.