Max Weber Blog's

The Badeschiff is one of Berlin’s most unusual attraction - a floating public swimming pool in the East Harbour section of the River Spree. The Badeschiff allows citizens to swim in a safe and sanitary environment in their river, at least in a figurative sense. The Spree itself is far too polluted to permit safe bathing.


Since its opening in 2004, it has become a true hot spot in town: deep blue swimming pool, wooden boardwalks, an open-air bar, with a stunning view. Each year between November and March the entire area is covered by a translucent shell and transformed into an enclosed wellness area. The Badeschiff was created by local artist, Susanne Lorenz, as an art project organized by the City Art Project Society of Berlin. The pool was converted from the hull of a vessel measuring eight by thirty-two metres.

The route along the A23 from London to Brighton in south-east England is popular for races, tours, charity rides and rallies. The route was originally popularized by the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run which begun in 1927 for cars built before 1904. The race was an reenactment of the original 1896 Emanicipation Run, held on 14 November 1896 to celebrate the passing into law of the Light Locomotives Act which raised the speed limit to 14 mph and did away with the need for a person to walk in front of a vehicle waving a red flag to warn other road users.
A total of 572 vintage cars took part in the rally from Hyde Park to the East Sussex resort in this year’s annual London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, but only 433 of them made it to the finish line some 60-miles away.

According to the rules, only cars registered before 1905 were eligible to take part. A rally spokesman said: "These cars are all over 100 years old so they're not the most reliable and many break down along the way, and there are always a few non-starters." He added that though a number of the larger vehicles could touch speeds of up to 60mph, a majority were going at around 20mph.

One of the first cars to cross the start line was a circa 1894 Benz Victoria. A 1904 Darracq, which starred in the 1953 comedy film Genevieve, also took part in the race.

The driver checks the engine of his car Argyll 1904, standing on Westminster Bridge in London .

The French Teste et Moret, 1900.



Peugeot 1903

The driver sits in his car Argyll 1901, which broke down again.


Australian car Bergmann Orient Express 1898 edition.



Stanley steam car, 1903 edition

Port Lockroy is a natural harbour on the Antarctic Peninsula of the British Antarctic Territory. Originally discovered in 1903 by a French Antarctic expedition, the port was named 'Port LaCroix' after Edouard LaCroix who helped finance the expedition. Over the years Port Lockroy found use as an anchorage by whalers and in 1944 became 'British Base A', the first of the more than 20 eventual British bases established in Antarctica.
After the close of World War II it functioned as a civilian research outpost and was eventually shut down in 1962. It sat abandoned until a British team renovated the historical site and opened it as a monument and museum in 1996. This base is now restored as a historic site which has a gift shop and the only public post office on the Antarctic peninula.
Port Lockroy museum and post office is operated by the United Kingdom Antarctic Heritage Trust and proceeds from the small souvenir shop fund the upkeep of the site and other historic sites and monuments in Antarctica.



The abandoned British base at Port Lockroy, 1962

Food rations on display at the museum

Port Lockroy sends dozens of postcards a week that get ferried once every two weeks to the Falkland Islands, and from there to England, no matter where their final destination may be.

The Lockroy weather station. Recording the barometric pressure and temperature throughout the year, this was one of the most vital pieces of equipment in the station

The Lockroy kitchen (above and below)


Only 4 people can stay at Port Lockroy. They all share a common bedroom with a bunk in each of the four corners of the room

In the Port Lockroy gift shop stands a painting possibly done by one of the early lodgers, some 50 years ago. Seems they never finished, and the model had to do without hands and only one arm!

At Port Lockroy, penguins and humans live in perfect harmony. Most of the current research revolves around the local Gentoo penguin population, and observing the impact of humans on their environment. Half the island is open to tourists, while the other half is reserved for penguins.

Pictures: Antarctic Fury