Originally posted by RagnorakIt's wrong to say that snady British beaches do not exist. There are several excellent beaches a little further along the South Coast, on the Isle of Wight, and around Bournemouth, and presumably elsewhere.
Britain has a shortage of sandy beaches because of the lack of a wide open area of sea, like the Atlantic.
Also, you failed to mention that you didn't see any bikinis/thongs in Brighton because you were maybe on the nudist beach?
D
Originally posted by kirksey957Gas stations in US: approx. 1 per 77 square kilometers
I missed that. If I had seen a nudist beach, it would have been duly noted and commented on.
Related to Brighton , let me mention one other aspect that I found favorable all across my trip. In most resort or beach towns there is a proponderance of billboards. I really really enjoyed seeing the countryside without the intrusion of billboards. In Ame ...[text shortened]... rtise everything. OK, having said that, they need to advertise where the damn gas stations are.
Gas stations Flanders: approx. 1 per 13 square kilometers
Only, we don't brag about it, and know how far we still can drive with our tank.😉
Originally posted by kirksey957Surely making conveniences public, free, and ubiquitous is a socialist policy. How did it ever catch on in the U.S.? Don't you believe in the free market over there? Where is McLoo or KonvenieceKing?
OK, this next issue was a big one for me as it nearly resulted in an embarrassing accident. Where the hell are the toilets in London? Merciful Jesus! 9 million damn people and maybe a dozen toilets in the whole of London. Ya'll need to get some damn port-a-pots and maybe paint some gold lions on them or something so to impress the queen. In America, ...[text shortened]... let sitiation. I never would have given you the Olympics based on this one factor alone.
The solution in the UK is just to ask politely whether you can go the toilet in a pub or restaurant. You will be permitted to do so 9 times out of 10. (Unlike in some Italian cities, e.g., Venice, where they flatly turn you down, insisting you buy something first.)
Originally posted by Mephisto2This may a bit misleading as we have vast open spaces where there are none but in congested areas they are everywhere.
Gas stations in US: approx. 1 per 77 square kilometers
Gas stations Flanders: approx. 1 per 13 square kilometers
Only, we don't brag about it, and know how far we still can drive with our tank.😉
Originally posted by rhbThis sounds very interesting. Can you describe what they look like or post some pictures of them?
the post-industrial wastelands I mentioned earlier in this thread.
In Bulgaria, there was this town called Pernik, just some kms of Sofia, where there are many huge factories abandoned after the fall of communism. It looks completely apocalyptic in a way.
A quick search on the net found this:
http://www.pbase.com/bogipavlov/industrial
but there are many even better sites there that would make a great set for a movie, music video or amazing photos.
Originally posted by kirksey957Isn't it halfway the vast open spaces where the need for gaz may be higher? But your point is well taken. Besides that, I have no idea how far my numbers are off reality. Well, as they say: si no è vero, è bien trovato.
This may a bit misleading as we have vast open spaces where there are none but in congested areas they are everywhere.
Originally posted by PalynkaI'm over-egging the 'wasteland' part... but most manufacturing around here is going / has gone. Longbridge in Birmingham (Rover) is one of the last big casualties - sooned to be joined by Peugout @ Ryton Coventry - down to just one shift working.
This sounds very interesting. Can you describe what they look like or post some pictures of them?
In Bulgaria, there was this town called Pernik, just some kms of Sofia, where there are many huge factories abandoned after the fall of communism. It looks completely apocalyptic in a way.
A quick search on the net found this:
http://www.pbase.com/bogip ...[text shortened]... even better sites there that would make a great set for a movie, music video or amazing photos.
There's plenty of Brownfield development going on as a result - building shells to serve use as 24hr Supermarkets, or Call Centres and the like.
Where I grew up in the flatlands of the South Derbys, most of the Coal fired powerstations are going, as is much of the Railway industry that the region grew around.
One pic I found is this aerial one - the cooling towers at Willington are kept incase they can be used in the future, plus I believe some rare Birds of Prey are nesting there - the rest of the site was cleared quickly following its closure.
http://www.willington-derbys.org.uk/Photos/PS/PowerStationAerial01.jpg
This is one of the more interesting derelictions in Derby, although you can't tell by the picture alone:
http://www.users.totalise.co.uk/~alocke/Assets/Roundhousepos.jpg
For more pictures in line with those via your link, you'll like this website:
http://www.abandoned-places.com/
Originally posted by rhbI'm getting all nostalgic for the mine dumps of Johannesburg. I can't seem to find a photograph that does justice to their lunar grandeur, though.
Where I grew up in the flatlands of the South Derbys, most of the Coal fired powerstations are going, as is much of the Railway industry that the region grew around.
Originally posted by rhbI used to live up the road from here in Devon.
Re: the beaches - did you try Devon and Cornwall?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/devon/content/panoramas/saunton_sands_360.shtml
It's where the beach scenes in The Wall film [Pink Floyd] was made.
This is the middle of winter - hence no one in view - in the summer there are usually plenty of thongs and bikini wearers around for anyone interested.