City under the water in Ganvie Aftica

Ganvié is a water town situated on the northern edge of the Lake Nokoué in southern Benin. Marketed as the ‘Venice of Africa’, Ganvié is probably the most well-known and foremost among other lacustrine villages in the same region. Ganvié is a favourite among tourists to Benin with the government policy aimed at transforming the town into a major tourist attraction. As Ganvié is considered a rarity on the African continent, due to the fact that the town was built on a lake, information on socio-economic activities, the physical environment and the modern-day ecological effects of human settlements on the surrounding Lake Nokoué is readily available. Incidentally, I learnt of Ganvié from a magazine article on the impact of climate change on the region. Less information is readily available on Ganvié’s fascinating history; Ganvié was founded by people in an effort to escape captivity and enslavement in the Americas.

According to Elisée Soumonni, “little attention is paid to the ways in which local African populations resisted enslavement, giving the impression that any form of resistance began on board slave ships or in the Americas.” I believe this also fuels erroneous suggestions that all African ethnic groups were comfortable with slavery and enslavement, not knowing what they were heading to in the Americas and only revolting after their enslavement. The existence of Ganvié stands as a testament to resistance to the transatlantic slave trade within African shores.

The people of Ganvié are today known as the Tofinu. Today they are recognised as a unique and homogenous ethnic group; however, historically several groups of people across ethnic lines moved to the areas and marshlands around Lake Nokoué as refugees. They fled to escape slave raiding armies from the kingdom of Dahomey. Nowadays Dahomey is recognised as a powerful West African kingdom and is well-known among those who are interested in African history. Admiration is usually held for the kingdom, especially for the women that served in the Dahomean army, commonly referred to as ‘Dahomey Amazons’. It seems that the effects of the transatlantic slave trade to the kingdom of Dahomey is largely unnoticed for the most part; Dahomey was an important supplier of captives for enslavement in the Americas. It has been suggested that the Aja-speaking peoples, the people from which both the Tofinu and Dahomeans descended from, were among the largest captives in the transatlantic slave trade.

100 Years Anniversary for Titanic

This year, some time in April, is a 100th Anniversary of Titanic sinking, so it the spirit of that there is a remake of great movie Titanic now in 3D technology. I did my best to find some original and thus really old pictures of how Titanic did really look like. Unfortunately there are not so many, but you will be able to picture the ship interior in your mind, based on available photos. After seeing these pictures, I said that I’d like if I could’ve seen it, but then again – maybe not. Anyway, enjoy from the safe distance.

6 Abandoned Hotels From Around The World

Around the world stand empty hotels that symbolise the loss of prosperity and the death of dreams. Lavish resorts and small hotels which were once filled with life and activity are now abandoned and filled only with decay.

Expensive hotels that began to be erected in areas of the world where development was anticipated now remain half-built in areas of the world where tourists rarely go. Abandoned hotels range from decrepit to like-new and exist everywhere from remote parts of the globe to modern urban cities. Following are some of the most interesting of those spots that serve as reminders that even the best laid plans don’t always work out over time.

Bokor Palace Hotel and Casino, Cambodia

Bokor Palace Hotel and Casino : There is a small French town in Cambodia that was lively throughout much of the 20th Century but is now completely abandoned. Built in the 1920’s, it became a partying hot spot for backpacking travellers during the 1960’s. The centerpiece of these parties was the Bokor Hill Station, a hotel which now stands abandoned. Tourists interested in taking a major trek in Cambodia can go tour the ruins today. 

 Aptera Beach Resort, Crete

Aptera Beach Resort: A series of beaches in Hania, Crete are welcoming to tourists from all around the world who are drawn in by the warm Mediterranean waters and the Greek way of life. However, a small beach called Aptera Beach has been abandoned and the resort that is left empty there is more than a little bit creepy.

Sinai Peninsula, Egypt

Sinai Peninsula: This part of the world is famous specifically because of the abandoned hotels that stand isolated here. At one time it was believed that this was going to be a booming area for growth and investment was made to start the construction of several elaborate five star hotels. However they never came to fruition, investment was abandoned and the hotels are just sitting there, half-finished in their concrete forms. Their only purpose has been as the architectural subject of a in Vienna. Investment was poured into the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula, but mostly around Sharm el Sheikh.

Hotel Fife, Scotland

Hotel Fife: Talk about eerie. This hotel in Scotland was abandoned specifically because the owners of the hotel kept experiencing what they could only describe as poltergeist activity. Built on the remains of an old hospital, it is said to be haunted. The still image slideshow (above) comes from a paranormal investigation completed there.

Randall Park Hotel, Ohio

Randall Park Hotel: There’s a strange old hotel which was abandoned near Randall Park, Ohio back in the early 1990’s. It appears to have been damaged in a fire but what’s strange about it is that it’s filled with items that are marked with price tags, probably after an inventory of items was made for an insurance claim. Significant fire and smoke damage can be seen throughout.

Budomel, Poland

Budomel: In West-Central Poland is a city called Poznan which is one of the oldest cities in the country and a place where many historic landmarks can be found. You’ll also find this abandoned hotel there.