Picture Yourself There

East Side Gallery

If you expect the most famous and impressive examples of graffiti art to be credited to the enigmatic Banksy, you should know that a more spectacular – and highly politically charged – example of the art in Berlin is currently under threat. The East Side Gallery is one of the last remaining stretches of the Berlin Wall, and features the work of more than a hundred artists from across the world who wanted to make a statement about the regime that created it.

There are no kissing policemen here – but one of the most famous murals on the wall shows Erich Honecker, the East German leader, locked in an embrace with Soviet President Leonid Breshnev. Sadly, age and the elements are taking their toll on this relic, and the government is struggling to find the £2.2 million necessary for renovation.

Get the NavPix here, and see this piece of history for yourself…

Image copyright VRWAY, see here for more...

Nelson Mandela in Parliament Square, London

 

It’s somehow caused an awful lot of fuss – but the bronze statue of Nelson Mandela, once destined for Trafalgar Square but refused by Westminster Council, will finally take its place in Parliament Square as of 29th September. This is a result of sustained pressure from London’s Mayor, Ken Livingstone, who has campaigned for five years to find it an appropriate home. So, well done to him – but now you’re done with this, Ken, maybe you could do something about that Victoria line which never seems to be working?

Only joking. London's just great right now. And that's because it is one of the fine, multicultural places in the world that will not tolerate the apartheid Mandela fought against. The statue is a reminder that, thanks to the work of such icons, racism will never be tolerated. Truly inspirational, the piece reminds us that the greatest achievements can be made if we each stand up for what we believe.

Not like Picture Yourself There to get all serious, is it? Sorry, we’ll have a little lie down and be back on form tomorrow. Get the NavPix here...

Endeavour Launch at the Kennedy Space Centre

What was your childhood ambition? Did you want to be a teacher, a train driver or a movie star? Like most people, my life turned out differently to how I imagined it would be (I wanted to be a lollipop lady), and if you were one of the millions of kids with starry-eyed ambitions to be an astronaut, you may have been particularly excited and a touch nostalgic to hear that a spectacular launch of the space shuttle Endeavour took place on Wednesday evening.

The Endeavour, which last flew before the Columbia disaster in 2003, launched successfully from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida last night and will carry its passengers on an 11-14 day mission to the International Space Station. The astronauts will take part in a number of six-hour spacewalks to carry out construction work on the structure using a robotic arm and, presumably, nerves of steel. If you’re envious that these men and women managed to make their childhood ambition of space travel a reality, don’t forget that their line of work involves not just skill, but a great deal of courage.

Get the Kennedy Space Centre NavPix here…

Vancouver Aquarium

For all of you who thought that it was safe to put those childhood terrors to bed… prepare for an unwelcome sequel to a classic horror story. [Cue ominous strings…] Experts have recently been divided over the supposed sighting of a great white shark off the coast of England’s St Ives – and while some of us are assuming (and, presumably, hoping) that the dark fin moving through the water belonged to a benign basking shark, many more will be keeping our toes out of the water for the time being just until we know for sure. The water’s probably freezing, anyway…

But sharks are not just dangerous – they’re pretty spectacular creatures too. And if you dare, you can now spend an evening in their watery world at the Vancouver Aquarium with their Shark Night overnight stays. With lectures, dinner and a bed in front of the exhibits, this is like staying in a hotel, but actually learning something instead of watching TV and eating Toblerone from the mini bar. Just don’t go ordering fish and chips for dinner.

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And thanks to www.arcatapet.net for today's image.

Car ban in Beijing before Olympics 2008

If you live in the UK, you’ll be more than aware of the perhaps controversial smoking ban that has descended upon us. Whether you’re a relieved smokefree supporter or an unashamed nicotine nut, the effects are plain to see: combine the ban with a showery summer, and you’ve got a lot of damp, disgruntled addicts grabbing their fixes in rainy doorways – even what with the smirting (that’s ‘smoking and flirting’ – do try to keep up) it’s not much fun, huh?

But if you’re of the opinion that these are extreme measures all for a bit of fresh air, try to imagine what it will be like in Beijing for the next two weeks when 1 million cars are banned from the city. In a bid to freshen up before the 2008 Olympics, the number of vehicles in the Chinese capital will be dramatically cut down, starting tomorrow. So, while you’re sitting in a restaurant tearing your hear out because you can’t have a post-dinner cigarette with your espresso, thank your lucky stars that you’re not walking to work in the mornings.

Well, perhaps you'll be able to enjoy this city's beautiful locations more without the roar of traffic. We think the Forbidden Palace, which was the Chinese imperial palace between the Mong and Qing dynasties, is particularly special. Get the NavPix here…

Thanks to http://po-ru.com/ for today's image!

Bush meets Brown at Camp David

World leaders have met here in years past; famous peace treaties have been signed, alliances forged, best laid plans set. George Bush’s famous presidential retreat, Camp David has now proudly hosted new UK Prime Minister, Gordon Brown. Washington’s top notch press corps obviously thought long and hard about what defining image to release to the international media. Why not show Bush and Brown having fun in a golf buggy! At least its a zero-emissions vehicle….

Whether they had time for an 18 hole golf session remains to be seen, but the sport is certainly popular with the Yanks – approximately half of the world’s golf courses are in the US. Worthington Manor Golf Club is one of the top courses in the state of Maryland and within ‘driving range’ of Camp David too.

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Navman Loves - school holidays, Please Touch Museum

It’s that time of year, and there are two words hovering on the lips of every pre-teen with the power to strike fear into the heart of parents across Europe: ‘I’m bored’. Kids these days just don’t know how to entertain themselves – if they’re not plugged into a Playstation or an mp3 player or frozen in front of the latest DVD, they’re climbing the walls / graffiti-ing the walls / terrorising the neighbour’s cat. If you’re dreading three long months of restless children, already tetchy from a Ribena-induced sugar high, you’ll be glad to hear that we might just be able to help.

No, we’re not offering to babysit - we’ve just got a suggestion for you. If your little angels are threatening to turn into little monsters over the holidays, why not take a trip to the Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia where they can break the ordinary rules to their hearts’ content by getting their mucky hands all over the diplays. Designed to help youngsters to learn through interactive and varied exhibits, this is bound to keep them quiet. For a few hours, at least.

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Musée de Quai Branly

Sometimes, the further into the heart of the city you go, the further away from it you find yourself. Take London’s Piccadilly Circus, for example: if you’re ever wandering around this, the hustle and bustle of the city’s famed theatreland and tourist centre, you’re only a moment away from the gates of Chinatown (and some top-notch noodles). In the same way, don’t expect a classic French experience if you take a trip to our Parisian NavPix today – despite it’s location on the banks of the Seine at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, the Musée de Quai Branly will take you on a trip to Africa, Oceania, Asia and the Americas.

A museum and research centre combined, this incredible building combines anthropology, archaeology, linguistics and history along with art aesthetics to give visitors an educational and inspiring view of non-Western art. Phew. Don’t worry though if you’re the kind of person who has trouble with the quick crossword – even if you’re more familiar with the work of Mitchell and Webb than Apollinaire and Malraux, the architecture of this incredible building is a sight in itself.

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New Seven Wonders - The Coliseum

The number seven is steeped in symbolism. Think about its significance within our culture: the Bible teaching that the world was created in seven days; seven ages of man; seven deadly sins… And, of course, seven Police Academy films. Not forgetting the Seven Wonders of the World which are now, thanks to Swiss entrepreneur Bernard Weber, being updated so that every structure built before the year 2000 can be included. (And no, sadly the Millennium Dome didn’t make the grade.) You and the rest of the world can cast your votes at www.new7wonders.com, and see whether modern marvels such as the Taj Mahal and Sydney Opera House can stand up to such time-honoured phenomenons as the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and the Lighthouse of Alexandria.

Here at Picture Yourself There, we love the incredible Coliseum, where more than 50,000 Romans would in ancient times regularly watch gladiators battle to the death. Gruesome. Get the NavPix here…

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World Environment Day, Norway

At a time when environmental issues are at the forefront of the public consciousness, days like this are taking on more and more significance. Tromsø in Norway will today host the main celebrations of World Environment Day 2007, highlighting the dangers of global warming to people and animals across the world, and encouraging all nations to make positive changes towards a greener future. Street parties, concerts and bike rallies will all be taking place, in a bid to promote the idea that each of us can, if we want to, make a difference.

And if you’re still too lazy to look out for the energy-saving lightbulbs when you’re doing your weekly shop, Reuters had news yesterday that might make you change the way you think… Warmer climes in Finland caused by global warming mean that Calpe moths – which feast on human blood – are taking up residence in the country.

Vampire moths?! A good enough reason to go green, we reckon. Get the Tromsø NavPix here…