Birmingham and Coventry, England, June 2022

Birmingham

Birmingham is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1.14 million in the city proper and 4.3 million for the wider metropolitan area. Birmingham is often considered to be the social, cultural, financial and commercial centre of the Midlands. Unusually the city has no large river running through it with only the small River Tame and its tributaries flowing close to the centre. The city grew in the 18th century during the Midlands Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution and became known as “the first manufacturing town in the world”.

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Big Pit National Coal Museum, Wales, May 2022

Saturday, 28th May 2022.

The Big Pit National Coal Museum is located in Blaenavon, Torfaen, Wales. A working coal mine from 1880 to 1980, the site is now an industrial heritage museum, which has been open to the public since 1983 under the auspices of the National Museum of Wales. The underground tour of the mine is fantastic and guided by former miners, who provide excellent exploration through the mine. Big Pit is located adjacent to the preserved Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway and is part of the Blaenavon Industrial Landscape World Heritage Site.

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Italy, May 2022

Genoa

Genoa (Genova) is a historic port city in the Italian region of Liguria on the Mediterranean coast. It is the sixth largest city in Italy with a population of around 580,000. For over seven centuries, from the 11th century to 1797, the Republic of Genoa was one of Europe’s most powerful maritime republics. Particularly between the 12th century and 15th centuries the city played a leading role in European trade and became among the wealthiest cities in the world.

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Pakistan, March 2022

Karachi

Karachi is the financial hub and largest city of Pakistan with a population of 14.9 million people. Located on the Arabian Sea, it is home to the country’s two largest seaports. It is Pakistan’s most cosmopolitan city and is diverse linguistically, ethnically, and religiously.

Wednesday, 2nd March 2022

Tony outside the main entrance to the Mohatta Palace. The palace was built in 1927, as the summer home of Shivratan Mohatta, a wealthy Hindu businessman. He was only able to enjoy the building for about two decades before the partition of India, after which he left Karachi for the new state of India. The palace was then acquired by the Government of Pakistan and later turned into a museum. The building is styled in the tradition of the stone palaces found in the Indian state of Rajasthan. The exterior is a mixture of pink Jodhpur stone and the local yellow stone from nearby Gizri. The design includes several domes on the roof and many intricate details around the façades.
Tony outside the main entrance to the Mohatta Palace. The palace was built in 1927, as the summer home of Shivratan Mohatta,

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Colchester and Ipswich, England, February 2022

Colchester

Colchester is a historic city in the east of England, located on the River Colne and situated 50 miles (80 kilometres) north-east of London. The city occupies the site of Camulodunum, the first major city and first capital of Roman Britain. Colchester has a Norman castle, Roman walls, and many other attractive old buildings.

11th-12th February 2022

Tony and Tatiana stood outside the entrance to the Natural History Museum on Colchester High Street. The old Gothic-arched doorway behind was once the entrance to All Saints Church. The museum now occupies this former church.
Tony and Tatiana stood outside the entrance to the Natural History Museum on Colchester High Street.

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