Tag: museum
V&A Dundee opening strengthens Japan & Scotland links
July 8 (TravelAndy): The eagerly anticipated opening of V&A Dundee was among the experiences highlighted to travel trade and airline contacts during a visit to Japan by Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Europe and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop.
The renowned attraction, which will open on Dundee’s waterfront in September, marks a unique opportunity to position Scotland as a place to live and work, study, invest and visit to Japanese visitors, the Cabinet Secretary has said.
The stunning structure, designed by acclaimed Japanese architect Kengo Kuma – who also designed the 2020 Olympic Stadium in Tokyo – is expected to attract 350,000 visitors each year. It is the first V&A museum to be created outside of London and has become a valuable addition of Scotland’s cultural offering. Continue reading V&A Dundee opening strengthens Japan & Scotland links
New fishing museum in Normandy
December 22 (TravelAndy): At the heart of the Alabaster Coast, the Musée des Pêcheries is the latest museum to open in Normandy. Covering 5000 square metres, it explores the long history of fishing in Fécamp and in Normandy, along with exhibits from local traditions and history. All aboard!
Located on the port, the Musée des Pêcheries is housed in the town’s historic fish-drying warehouses, which have been completely refurbished and modernised.
The museum explores five themes over 5000 square metres: sealife, history, fine art, childcare and ethnography. Visitors will discover paintings, ship models, traditional fishing gear, porcelain and even ivory art pieces on five floors. Continue reading New fishing museum in Normandy
What really happened to this Van Gogh masterpiece?
A lot of people go to Germany for war tourism. I go because I love the food and the people there. But this time, I went to research my first novel. The historical fiction novel is called ON THE ROAD TO TARASCON.
The Internet had different and sometimes conflicting versions of the bit of history I was interested in. So, I decided to go to Magdeburg — a town one hour and 40 minutes by train from Berlin — and find out for myself the circumstances in which a Vincent Van Gogh masterpiece had gone missing on April 30, 1945.
If you have an idea about the World War 2 history of Magdeburg, you would know it was completely flattened by the British Royal Air Force bombings in 1945. As I got down from the intercity express and walked into the city to find a tram to take me to my hotel, I kept imagining how the place would have looked in the early months of 1945. Continue reading What really happened to this Van Gogh masterpiece?
The Scotland of Sherlock Holmes
September 25 (TravelAndy): A hundred and twenty-five years ago the first collection of Sherlock Holmes stories was published, and the rest is history.
Saturday, 14 October marks the 125th anniversary of the publication of the first collection of Sherlock Holmes stories, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Scotland, as the birthplace of author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, is the ideal location for following in the famous detective’s footsteps, with dedicated tours as well as the chance to explore Scotland’s wider literary heritage.
In 2004 Scotland’s capital city Edinburgh was designated the first UNESCO City of Literature. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was born in Edinburgh in 1859, the beauty of the city provided the perfect inspiration for his writing. Scotland is also the birthplace of other literary giants such as Irvine Welsh, Robert Burns and Ian Rankin. Continue reading The Scotland of Sherlock Holmes
Telangana plans tourist accommodation inside a jail
August 9 (TravelAndy): India’s youngest state Telangana is all set launch jail tourism in its Sanga Reddy heritage jail and museum, said reports.
This is going to be an innovative thing, where visitors will be able to rent a cell inside the 219 years old heritage jail, for accommodation. Moreover, tourists accommodating in the prison will be served the same food, which is served to the prison inmates.
Additionally, the tourists will follow the same schedule followed by prisoners, during their stay. This will give them the real feel of staying in a jail. Continue reading Telangana plans tourist accommodation inside a jail
Elvis Presley planes to stay at Graceland
April 27 (TravelAndy): Rock and roll icon Elvis Presley’s two airplanes — Lisa Marie and Hound Dog II — will remain at Graceland in Memphis permanently.
Graceland, which was the home of Elvis, is now among the most-visited private houses in the US with hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.
Lisa Marie, Elvis’ daughter after whom one of the planes was named, said on Twitter: “The planes will remain at Graceland 4 ever!”
“The planes are ours…they will remain at Graceland,” Tweeted Elvis’ former wife Priscilla Presley.
The two custom-designed planes, which have been in Graceland since 1984, are popular with visitors to the museum.
The fate of the two planes had become uncertain last year with Elvis Presley Enterprises deciding to remove them from the site. The decision had angered fans.