In Bulgaria, above Sofia, in the forest, the hiker may encounter an unlikely large abandoned hotel, once part of the Bor chain. One can enter through a kitchen window, which still contains much of its equipment. A highly unusual place to visit as a guest, yet one so used daily by a staff that has …
Near Sofia, the Goritsa waterfall is accessible after a fairly long forest walk from the small village of Ovchartsi, south of Sofia. It is very isolated and a must-see for all lovers of waterfalls, remote forest sites and great tranquility. Divided into three, its height is 39 meters. You may want to go to the …
North of Zadar near a highway, but well hidden behind a small hill, stands a large, abandoned motel doomed to decay and dereliction at the end of a vast parking lot. Overgrown with weeds and illegal dumping of industrial waste, this place is great for urbex in Croatia. The site forces the imagination to project …
Nessebar by the sea, Veliko Tarnovo and the ruins of Tsarevets, the ancient houses of Koprivshtitsa and Plovdiv, with its roman amphitheater and vintage streets are all ancient cities in Bulgaria which are really worth a visit amongst many other ones. A two-hour drive from Sofia, the small town of Koprivshtitsa is a popular tourist …
In Romania, the Cheile Nerei-Beuşniţa national park is ideal for numerous hikes. Sasca Montana waterfalls and urbex are unavoidable beyond the small village. First, in Sasca Romana, a wooden slatted suspension bridge opens a long walk through ancient Roman tunnels in a magnificent scenery. The trail joins a forest road with cascades leading to the …
Continue reading Sasca Montana Waterfalls, Baile Herculane and Urbex
On north of Sibenik, on a rather desolate country road not used by tourists visiting the waterfalls of the Krka Natural Park, lie abandoned villages. Witnesses to a distant past, sometimes they accumulate successive layers of ancient history, remains of walls that seem to have emerged from excavations, landscapes of solitude and abandonment. Like this …
Sibenik in Croatia is a small town where the river Krka flows into the Adriatic sea in central Dalmatia. The center is a maze of ancient, sometimes steep, alleyways, with charming houses, both small and large, that express a strong Mediterranean identity but also a very specific personality. A whole series of small islands line …
A photo gallery of the ancient and beautiful wooden churches during a journey in Norway. There are more of these Stave Churches across the country, you can learn more about them in the Wikipedia page. These ancient religious buildings give a strong impression of a long gone past, kind of another world, in a gorgeous …
What is an idea? What exactly happens when we exclaim "I have an idea"? Where do ideas come from, and what reality do they possess? These questions still puzzle philosophers, psychologists, and scientists, and they form the core inquiry of this exploration into the nature of human thought. Do Ideas actually exist? Let’s face a …
Philip K. Dick ranks among the most influential science fiction authors. His work explores the boundaries between reality and illusion, humanity and technology. Numerous screen adaptations have posthumously elevated his reputation, showcasing his philosophical depth and prescient questioning of technological transformations: Minority Report, Paycheck, Total Recall, Screamers, A Scanner Darkly, Confessions of a Crap Artist …
Continue reading Philip K. Dick: visionary Science Fiction beyond screen adaptations
With the cave allegory , Plato depicts an ascending journey out of illusion, toward reality. This text, one of the most emblematic in the history of philosophy, offers countless interpretations through its evocative power. What does this climb toward light by a prisoner breaking free from chains symbolize? What do these chains represent, and what …
What is the heart of man? This question runs through the entire work of Maxime Chattam, widely regarded as one of France's foremost masters of psychological thrillers. His novels confront readers with a disturbing reality: how can seemingly ordinary individuals descend into criminal horror? This compelling theme, pervasive throughout popular culture in countless novels, films, …
Continue reading Beyond thriller: discovering the worlds of Maxime Chattam
Science fiction is a metaphor for the present. In the guise of projecting the reader into imaginary universes, sci-fi talks to us about ourselves. without cutting us off from reality. This way, it is utopia’s continuity, because since Thomas More it is about something else than portraying an exotic way of life for its exoticism. …
Continue reading Robert Charles Wilson, science fiction beyond utopia
The Culture series is a whole universe built by the Scottish writer Iain Banks. The nine novels, which can be read separately, will remain unfortunately too few due to the death of the author in 2013 at the age of 59 years. Here is their list: Consider Phlebas (1987) Use of Weapons (1990) The Player …
Eyvind Earle (April 26, 1916 – July 20, 2000) was an American artist, author and illustrator, noted for his contribution to the background illustration and styling of Disney animated films in the 1950s. I have discovered his paintings recently and cannot stop enjoying this deeply original view on nature and trees. Where the painter passes, …