Author: Jude Brosnan

We’ve been there // Yucatan

The Yucatan peninsular is an amazingly flat spur of land from the south east coast of Mexico. It comprises the entire country of Belize  together with three Mexican States; Quintana Roo, Yucatan and Campeche. That meteor fell 65 million years ago off its coast, in the Gulf of Mexico, which wiped out the dinosaurs. I will come back to that later. Continue reading We’ve been there // Yucatan

Happy Put Hearts Everywhere Day

It would be a crime if we let this day pass without showing some love for this 1536 cordiform (cor= heart in Latin) map of the world by the French mathematician and cartographer Oronce Fine. This particular projection is from the Pseudoconic family and is often know as Werner projection after the German mathematician Johannes Warner (1466-1528). Distances are correct from one pole and also along all parallels and the central meridian.

Oronce Fine 1494-1555

 

If you are interested in a more modern cordiform map, check out this map of the New York City Railway System:

Reworking the subway system into a heart shape, this Zero Per Zero map is inspired by the iconic ‘I heart NY’ logo by Milton Glaser.

Oh, and we sell it as a mouse mat.

Mappy Valentine’s Day.

 

The Amazing Story of the Man who Cycled from India to Europe for Love

Flowers? Chocolates? A card? A 7,000 mile bike ride?

PK cycled from New Deli, India to Boras, Sweden to be with the woman he loved. On the way he had many adventures and rode in eight different countries until he was reunited with Lotta.  The Amazing Story of the Man who Cycled from India to Europe for Love is by Per J Andersson and it’s a wonderful story about different cultures and classes and how love conquers all. The couple have been married since 1979. Continue reading The Amazing Story of the Man who Cycled from India to Europe for Love

The Blowfish, Fishing Impossible // Stanfords Travel Writers Festival

Andrew Wilson interviews the world’s only heavy metal marine biologist, The Blowfish. The pair talk about Fishing Impossible the hit new ITV and BBC Worldwide series that takes fishing and conservation to extremes. From shark tagging off the coast of South Africa to diving under Arctic ice, The Blowfish shares his passion for the sea and tales of his boys’ own adventures from the series. Continue reading The Blowfish, Fishing Impossible // Stanfords Travel Writers Festival

Calling all explorers! Neville Shulman Challenge Award

If you are planning an expedition that will take place in 2017, then don’t miss the new application deadline for the Neville Shulman Challenge Award. Run by the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) since 2001, the award offers up to £8,000 for a journey that furthers the understanding of our planet – its cultures, peoples and environments. Continue reading Calling all explorers! Neville Shulman Challenge Award

Melanie Windridge, In Search of the Northern Lights // Stanfords Travel Writers Festival

Do we really understand the northern lights? Speaking about her new book and describing Arctic journeys culminating in a spectacular solar eclipse, Melanie Windridge brings together space, place and science in style. With Julia Wheeler.
Continue reading Melanie Windridge, In Search of the Northern Lights // Stanfords Travel Writers Festival

Nicholas Crane, The Making of the British Landscape // Stanfords Travel Writers Festival

Geographer, broadcaster, explorer and writer Nicholas Crane will explore the natural and human history that has shaped our landscape from the Ice Age to the present day in this illustrated talk which celebrates the wonderful diversity of our countryside and cities. Continue reading Nicholas Crane, The Making of the British Landscape // Stanfords Travel Writers Festival

Culinary Adventures // Stanfords Travel Writers Festival

If your travel motivation is to discover new flavours, this culinary panel will take your tastebuds on an adventure. Caroline Eden & Eleanor Ford (Samarkand), John Wright, author of the River Cottage Foraging Guides (A Natural History of the Hedgerow) and Elisabeth Luard (Squirrel Pie And Other Stories) discuss how exploring different countries’ food can help you gain a deeper insight into their cultures, and have a good time doing it. Continue reading Culinary Adventures // Stanfords Travel Writers Festival

Simon Reeve, in conversation // Stanfords Travel Writers Festival Day 4

TV presenter and author Simon Reeve talks to Julia Wheeler and shares tales from more than 110 countries he has travelled to making programmes for the BBC, including his new series on Turkey, due to air this spring. Continue reading Simon Reeve, in conversation // Stanfords Travel Writers Festival Day 4