Statues of Famous People in the UK, USA, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, HK, Australia, S Africa and more

Statues of favourite, famous people as well as religious figures and heroes and heroines of mythology are all around.  Let's start with where I am now, writing this in London, England.

London, England

You can sit next to comedian Spike Milligan in a pleasant park in Finchley, NW London, or pose beside author Oscar Wilde right in the city centre near Trafalgar Square.

For inspiration see the bust of Einstein in the sculpture section of the Victoria & Albert Museum. On a fine day, see the outdoor statues. On a dull day see Sherlock Holmes outside Baker Street station and the waxworks in Madame Tussaud's.

Statues In London

Nelson's column is a landmark in Trafalgar Square. You need to set your camera to multiply times three to get more detail. 

The world has many statues of Queen Victoria, royals, world famous figures, and local heroes. 

In London we have statues of Oscar Wilde in the centre, and  Amy Winehouse in Camden. I have a book just on statues of London.

Sigmund Freud sits in Hampstead near the Freud Museum, London, England.

Photo by Mike Peel and another in Wikipedia.

A temporary Freddy Mercury memorial picture is on the Spanish steps at Wembley, London, England, in the autumn of 2026. 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy4z8mzx7gwo

Shakespeare's bust is outside the free Guildhall Art Gallery in Guildhall Yard in London. 

Engineer Brunel sits on Paddington station. the other side of the station is a small statue of Paddington Bear.

A statue of Abraham Lincoln is in Parliament Square, London, England.

You can also see a bust of Mandela in London, outside the Festival Hall on the South Bank (of the river Thames).

 The Three Graces by Canova in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, England, UK

National Galleries of Scotland in Edinburgh (jointly owned, moving between these two museums), UK

Statues in England

Up north in Manchester, England, is a statue of Chopin at a piano, commemorating his visit to the city in the last year of his life.

A statue of Queen Elizabeth II with her corgi dogs is in Rutland, England.

Another is in Newcastle-under-Lyme in Queens Gardens, England.

Another is on York Minster, in York, England.

Manchester England, has a statue of Abraham Lincoln on Lincoln Square. Recalling the support Manchester gave Lincoln in the American Civil war.

The Beatles statue is in Liverpool.

And politician Margaret Thatcher's statue is in Grantham Lincolnshire, by the Grantham Museum, England.

The statue of playwright J B Priestley, who wrote An Inspector Calls, is on Princes Street outside the Museum of Science & Media in Bradford, England, UK. He was born in Bradford.

Scotland Statues

Statues of Robbie Burns who wrote Auld Lang Syne, sung by people all over the world on New Year's eve, are in Ayr, Edinburgh, Glasgow.

Wales Statues

A statue of Gandhi is in Cardiff, Wales, UK.

A statue of seated Dylan Thomas, poet who wrote Under Milk Wood and poem Do not go gentle into that goodnight, is by the Dylan Thomas theatre in Swansea, Wales, UK.

David Lloyd George, statue standing by Caernarfon Castle, Wales. Prime Minister, credited with introducing the National Health Service.

Statue of Aneurin Bevan in Cardiff, Wales, jointly credited with founding the National Health Service.

Australia's Statues

Questacon (Canberra, Australia): A prominent Albert Einstein statue marks the entrance to Australia's National Science and Technology Centre.

Statues In Canada

A statue of Queen Elizabeth II is in Toronto, Canada.

A statue of Queen Victoria is on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.

Statues of several Canadian Prime Ministers are on Parliament Path. 

Some statues may have been moved or removed. Check before taking a trip to see them.

Denmark Statues

The Little Mermaid, immortalised by Hans Christian Andersen.

A statue of the author Hans Christian Andersen is in Roseborg Gardens in Copenhagen.

Statues in France

The statue of the thinker is in the Rodin Gallery in Paris, France.

Dreyfus statue, Paris, France.

Burghers of Calais, group statues, in Calais France, by sculptor Rodin.

Statues In Greenland

Erik the Red and Leif Eriksson, explorers.

Australian Statues

Captain Cook statues are in Sydney and Melbourne.

Belarus

Statue of Marc Chagall, famous for his paintings, stained glass windows and sculptures. A statue of him is in

Bosnia Statues

Bruce Lee (Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina): A notable bronze statue of Bruce Lee stands in Zrinjevac Park, erected as a universal symbol of youth, solidarity, and pop culture neutrality across ethnic divides. [1]

Canada - Statues

See a statue of jazz pianist Oscar Peterson seated at his piano in Ottawa, Canada.

A-maze-ing Laughter statue is a popular photo spot in Vancouver.

China - Hong Kong

Bruce Lee Hong Kong: A famous life-sized statue honouring the martial artist stands in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong,

Czech Republic statues

See the statue of author Kafka in Prague. There are several statues associated with Kafka.

Germany's statues

Goethe Monument, Liepsig, Germany.

Walhalla Temple (Donaustauf, Germany): A bust sculpted by Ulrich Uhlig is displayed inside this hall of fame honoring distinguished Germans.

Israel

A replica of the Washington DC monument to Einstein is in the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Jerusalem, Israel. 

Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Jerusalem, Israel): A bronze sculpture of Einstein created by Georgy Frangulyan stands at the Edmond J. Safra Campus, honoring Einstein's role as one of the founders of the university.

Italy & The Vatican Statues

Outdoor statue of biblical David in Florence, Italy.

The Muses from Classical Antiquity (Roman) in The Vatican Museums, Rome, Italy.

Lithuanian Statues & Busts

The Three Muses statue, Vilnius, Lithuana. Situated above the main entrance to the Lithuanian National Drama Theatre on Gediminias Avenue.

Monument to John Lennon.

Monument to Frank Zappa.

Monument to Leonard Cohen.

Monument to the Vilna Gaon. (Child prodigy and later leader of Jewish community thinkers, who had memorised the entire bible at the age of 9.)

Mexico's Statues

Monument to Christopher Columbus in Mexico City.

Parque México (Mexico City, Mexico): A bronze bust of Einstein sculpted by Tosia Malamud stands in the Condesa neighborhood.

New Zealand Statues

A statue of Queen Victoria is in Auckland, on the North Island of New Zealand.

A statue of Captain James Cook is in Christchurch on the south island of New Zealand. I nearly got run over by a tram, as I was trying to photograph the statue, backing across the road to get it all in.

A statue of Burt Monroe, world motorcycle speed record holder, is shown on his motorbike in Invercargill, the southernmost city on the South Island of New Zealand.

Norway's Statues

Henrik Ibsen, playwright, has a statue in Oslo, outside the theatre.

Statues In Poland

A giant statue of composer Chopin in Warsaw is a landmark which you pass, or stop at, in guided tours of the city.

A statue of pianist Arthur Rubinstein at his piano, 

Portugal

Monument to the Discoveries, has Prince Henry the navigator and a series of statues of other famous explorers including Vasco da Gama. 

Christ the King.

Russia's Statues

Statue of Lenin in St Petersburg, Russia.

The Three Graces by Canova, neoclassical sculptor (1757-1822) in The Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg, Russia,

Singapore Statues

Singapore has a statue of Sir Stamford Raffles. 

Many more outdoors statues include a bird, a horse.

I love the children jumping into the water. 

The giant statue of the mythical Merlion spouts water. 

A plaque honours writer Joseph Conrad.

In Madame Tussauds on Sentosa Island you can see Lee Kuan Yew.

South African Statues

Statues of Mandela are everywhere, for example, in Cape Town, 

Nelson Mandela in Pretoria, 

Nelson Mandela in Durban.

Nelson Mandela, in Nelson Mandela Square, Johannesburg 

and more. 

Statues in Spain

A statue of seated Maimonides is in Maimonides Square in Cordoba, Spain.

The Three Muses are in The Prado, Madrid, Spain.

Statue of Cervantes, author of Don Quixote, in Madrid, Spain.

Statue of painter Velazquez in Madrid, Spain.

Monument to Columbus, Salamanca.

Monument to human towers, Tarragona, Spain.

Sweden's Statues

In Malmo, Sweden, you might want to see the jolly multi-person parade of statues in the Optimist Orchestra.

Switzerland's Statues

Freddie Mercury (Montreux, Switzerland): A famous 3-meter bronze sculpture by sculptor Irena Sedlecká stands overlooking Lake Geneva. It depicts Mercury in his iconic 1986 Wembley Stadium live pose. 

Rosengarten (Bern, Switzerland): A statue located in Bern's Rose Garden park commemorates the city where Einstein developed his Special Theory of Relativity while working at the Swiss Patent Office.

William Tell statue, Altdorf, Switzerland.

USA Statues

Visitors to New York are greeted by the giant Statue of Liberty. 

A statue of Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point, was placed in Times Square, New York, on September 10th 2026, the first anniversary of his death.

A statue of Scottish poet Robbie Burns is in New York, USA.

Another popular place, memorable and recognizable is the Lincoln Memorial, a giant statue of Abraham Lincoln seated outdoors in Washington DC in the USA. 

Albert Einstein Memorial (Washington, D.C., USA): Created by sculptor Robert Berks and located at the National Academy of Sciences, this massive, 12-foot bronze statue depicts Einstein seated on a three-step granite bench with a paper displaying his equations ($E = mc^2$, the photoelectric effect, and general relativity).

University of South Alabama (Mobile, Alabama, USA): Features the "Einstein Bench," a bronze sculpture depicting Einstein sitting on an outdoor campus bench.

Mount Rushmore in South Dakota is well known. A more recent mountain carving is Crazy Horse.

In the USA another statue of Einstein which you can sit next to is in Los Angeles at the Griffith Observatory.

Bruce Lee in Los Angeles: Famous life-sized statue honouring the martial artist is along the Avenue of Stars.

More Statues Worldwide

Useful Websites About Famous People and Statues

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_Hall_of_Fame

https://travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com/2017/05/wheres-statue.html

https://www.reutersconnect.com/item/artist-sergio-furnari-reveals-his-statue-of-turning-point-founder-charlie-kirk-in-times-square-in-new-york/

https://www.stephenshouseandgardens.com/visit/spike-milligan-statue

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Statues_in_Spain

https://www.un.org/ungifts/pianist (About Arthur Rubinstein)

https://www.mayflowercruisesandtours.com/iceland-greenland-erik-and-leif/

See Tripadvisor for top ten monuments or sites in each country, and Wikipedia for statues in each country.

America has many statues, as well as carvings of presidents, not only Mount Rushmore.

-ends-

Xmas, Hanukah and Winter Food and Festivities Around the World

 

Hanukah Coinciding With Christmas

This year, 2024, unusually, the 8 day Hanukah celebration coincides with Christmas. The start of Hanukah is on Christmas Day, December 25th. The Jewish calendar, changes dates each year. 

In the USA Christmas celebrations include a Santas' run. 

The Christmas celebration started as a religious holiday which included a midnight mass in the church,. These still take place in modern times in the UK and Europe.

Midnight Mass

 I attended a midnight mass in a church in Prague. Also one in London at a Catholic church. The one we went to was free, but to ensure seats for everybody, and comply with regulations preventing overcrowding, you might need to apply several days in advance for tickets. 

Advance Booking

The musical and/or religious event organizers may also need to know numbers to provide seating for all. Also to cater for any water or wine or wafers to be distributed, and for sufficient ushers, security or first aiders.) Be prepared for a donation box for charity being passed around. You might need cash, unless the health regulations banning coins and notes handled by many people, require donations in advance or arrears by cheques, bank transfer, phone pay or some other means.

Christmas was established on December 25th as the birthday of Jesus (whose date is not mentioned in the two books of the Christian New Testament. The date in December was to replace the pagan festival of Saturnalia, and to be in the week of the Solistice or sun's calendar's shortest day, so that a festival of light would cheer people and seem a good omen.

USA Streets

Street lights in the USA adorn skyscrapers in business districts, and rooftops of houses and on front lawns.  One street is entirely decorated by a man to cheer his wife who has dementia.

In some places the lights are such as attraction that traffic jams form, and there is a ban on non-residents and for cars, and/or pedestrians of tourists / a charge / voluntary charity collection.

New York has famous lights such as the Christmas tree. To accommodate people of all faiths and none, some places have renamed trees winter trees. Jewish organizations or commercial enterprises have offered blue stockings resembling the red ones, and a Hanukah bush in place of the tree. 

Chrismukah

The ideas multiply each year. A combined festival for mixed faith families or gatherings has been named by the combination word, or abbreviation, Chrismukah. At first this was probably intended by some to be viewed as mocking and negatively but it has become popular and positive.

Russia

Russia celebrates with grandfather Frost. He wears blue and white. He has a house you can visit.

North Macedonia

North Macedonia is Eastern Orthodox Christian. They celebrate the birth of Jesus in January.

Useful Websites on Christmas

https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/history-of-christmas

Useful Websites on Hanukah

Wikipedia - Hanukah

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanukkah

Grapevine Kosher Wine Shops

https://www.kosherwine.co.uk/

tel> 020 8202 2631

Latkes and Salt Beef\

https://www.bksaltbeefbar.com/about

Donuts for hanukah time only in London, England, Margot Bakery 121 East End Rd, East Finchley.

https://www.margotbakery.co.uk/chanukah

Carrot and ginger soup recipe from the BBC

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/carrot-ginger-soup

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RUSSIA - why you cannot visit it right now

 

 Most people try to get out of war zones, for their own safety. And all the tourist destinations are likely to be closed. There are people going to war zones, mostly escorted by soldiers, delivery foood parcels, or medicines or reporting news.

However, even for the bold and fearless traveller there are good reasons for not going.

1 Number one is restricted travel. I looked at the UK advicor on travel by chance, because I was ressseraching the Russian Language for my club on learning languages. Up popped assorted travel guides, and the UK government warning. It said there were no direct flight. You could get there indirectly, via a couple of countries which fly to Russia. 

However, apart from any moral reasons for not going, the practical considerations are the restrictions on travel. The warnings are, 

1 that it is dangerous. 

2 You might not be able to get transport back home again. 

3 If you get into any trouble, the embassy of your country may not be functioning or not be willing able to help you.

4 What's more your insurance is likely to refuse to pay out. 

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Holocaust Remembrance Day - January 27 - where you can learn more about the liberation of Auschwitz and survivors

 This January day commemorates the liberation of Auschwitz in the south of German-occupied Poland, near Krakow, by the Russians.

The motto over the entrance to the camp was Arbeit macht frei. Work makes you free. Those who could not work, children, the elderly, the disabled, were selected and sent straight to their deaths. 

I remember reading about a survivor who learned that her parents were sent straight to be killed. I was horrified. I thought she would be upset. On the contrary. She was relieved that her parents did not have to witness the horror of the roll calls, watching people being executed.

Pictures of those who did not survive.

In the early days, those who arrived were photographed on arrival for identity. However, those adults selected for survival, after three months their faces and bodies were so thin, so haggard from the horrors, so changed that they were unrecognizable and could not be identified from the photos. So, instead, their arms were stamped with numbers.

Survivors. After six months, children had survived, now well-fed, were brought back to the camp for a photo to show who the Russians had liberated. Whilst they might have been relieved to see each other, I cannot imagine that the children were happy to be back. 

National representatives are invited or volunteer to go to Auschwitz each year for a commemoration. In 2023 the Russians, at war with Ukraine, were not invited.  

If you go to Krakow, as I did, you will find a pretty, small city. It was small enough to be quickly captured and preserved by the invading Germans during WW2 as their HQ in the area. Auschwitz is just outside and one of the main places visited in the area. I knew it would be grim, but if you are taking guided tours you can hardly avoid it, because many full day tours include a half day there, and if you are in the area for two days, you have done most other places on the first day. 

On a slightly lighter note, the museum in the city in Schindler's former factory site, provides much less about those who lose their lives and much more about the survivors. I was glad to visit that afterwards. 

Israel honours those who saved Jews at Yad Vashem. You can visit holocaust memorials and museums all around the world. See below.

Anne Frank was in Auschwitz in Poland and was transported to Bergen Belsen in Germany where she died. 

Useful Websites

HISTORY

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auschwitz_concentration_camp

2023 NEWS

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11683361/Putin-blasts-neo-Nazis-Ukraine-Holocaust-Remembrance-Day.html

MUSEUMS TO VISIT IN POLAND

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auschwitz-Birkenau_State_Museum

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majdanek_State_Museum

Photos

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Konzentrationslager_Majdanek

UKRAINE - Memorial in Ukraine, Babi Yar

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babi_Yar_Holocaust_Memorial_Center#:~:text=On%20September%2029%2C%202016%2C%20President,Ukraine%2C%20in%202025%2F26.&text=Memorial%20to%20the%20victims%20of%20the%20Holocaust.

UK Holocaust Museum

https://www.visit-nottinghamshire.co.uk/things-to-do/the-national-holocaust-centre-and-museum-p586711

USA Holocaust museum

https://www.ushmm.org/online/ihrd/2023/

ISRAEL

https://www.yadvashem.org/

VENEZUELA

Star of David shape Shoah memorial in Jewish cemetery in Caracus, Venezuela

Holocaust memorials and museums worldwide

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Holocaust_memorials_and_museums

A happy story of a survivor and the rescuing family in Belgium

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11671459/Man-revisits-home-mother-hid-Nazis-80-years-ago.html

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Christmas is over, decorations down? Not yet! Niet, niet.

Russia

The Russian Orthodox church celebrates on Jan 7th, using a different calendar. 

Ukraine

This year a Ukrainian city near the border decided to celebrate instead on Dec 25th (in alignment with other parts of the world) instead of with Russia.

Spain and UK

 I remember as a child that we would go to my parents' one bedroom flat in Marbella, Spain. On Christmas day, instead of spending more for meals, we could have sardines on toast by the beach. 

Marbella had many ex-pat families from London, England, and Jews from North West London could be elsewhere for Christmas without the children noticing that they were not getting expensive presents but instead having a holiday swimming and sunbathing in the sun escaping the risk of snow in England.  If we extended our holiday to January 7th, on the evening of the 5ht or 6th, I forget which, we would read in the local free newspapers about the Magi on horseback parading through Estepona, and throwing sweets to the children in the crowd. One year we went along to see them. 

UK

In the UK many people keep up their decorations until the end of their break from work and school, at least until the new year when decorations change from red, green and white to silver, gold, white and black or blue. Increasingly with longer breaks, the decorations are staying up and the shops and attractions are attracting customers with ice rinks and events staying open. 

France

With energy expensive, economies are being made in the UK, France and Europe. In France some lights are turned off at a quarter to midnight (11.45 pm or 23.45). Others are turned off at 10 pm. So if you are taking a trip to see the lights, go early.

London

In London, England, new energy saving light bulbs are now the norm and it is hard to find bulbs for your old fittings or if one light bulb of a set of six needs replacing and you don't want one odd one.

Half Open Top Bus

You can take a tour of the lights in an open top bus. Actually, some of the buses are half open at the top. Depending on the weather, early boarders can get the seat open top with a better view and opportunity for unobstructed photos, or inside out of the chill and risk of rain.

Walking Tours Of The East End

If you are avoiding traffic and taking a walking tour of London, such as the East End of London, which I did one year, seeing Jack the Ripper sites and the Old Jewish East End. There you can sometimes see outside or inside a synagogue, learn about Disraeli, and pass another former synagogue which changed to another religion.  You can still buy bagels, at one of the two shops during the night for taxi drivers and night owl workers and tourists

Now the mosques and their Muslim congregations have taken over.. But the Asian sweets are an extra attraction.

Singapore

Over in Singapore, where parts of my family have lived, on and off, since the nineteen nineties, the department stores took down the Xmas decorations. But they kept up decorations for the anticipation of the next holiday, which was Chinese New Year, which falls variably, sometimes earlier than other years.

We are now looking forward to New Year. Celebrated in the UK, Gibraltar, and first over in Australia in New Zealand. Although the Chinese have a different New Year, increasingly around the world you can see magnificent displays of lights and fireworks in China, Singapore, Hong Kong and around the world, one after another.

Lastly, there's the ice hotels, in Sweden and other northern countries. Over in the USA, you can find one in the Americas, in Canada.

Useful Websites

Ukraine

https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20221226-tearing-ourselves-away-ukrainians-break-with-russian-orthodox-christmas-tradition 

A Colourful, Crazy World: King of Colour, Corbusier; hats on UK mail boxes; and murals worldwide

 I read about a woman who painted her door pink in Edinburgh, Scotland, in a conservation area. She was fined and told to repaint the door in muted colours to match the general historic colour scheme of the area.

Some people can't resist painting a door or wall in a bright jolly colour. Or even painting a scene, or a trompe l'oeuil. Or a political statement or amusing image.

Britain has Banksy in Bristol, England. More Banksy pictures appear in London, and in galleries, and on walls worldwide.

Tenby in Wales has colourful external walls. 

London has amusing and colourful knitted and crochet post box toppers.

More murals in Brixton. Others in London's East End.

Valparaiso, Chile, South America

Rio, S America

But the cold, wet and windy seasides also have colour.

Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway

In Europe, after WW2 Corbusier put colour on a block of flats in Marseilles, France. Oddly, for years I knew about the colours, which were so rarely copied. But the most remarkable thing about his blocks of flats was the creation of a village in the sky with an internal street with shops and amenities.

Incidentally, a seated statue of Corbusier, who I consider the king of colour, is in Moscow, Russia.

Useful Websites

USA

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mural_Arts_Philadelphia

CANADA

https://nationalpost.com/news/toronto/a-little-colour-city-of-toronto-commissions-artists-to-hand-paint-designs-on-traffic-signal-boxes

UK

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post_box_topper

For and against a pink front door in a conservation area>

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-63426312

How the Greeks and Romans painted statues which we display as plain white

https://www.bbc.co.uk/reel/video/p0crtd9v/chromophobia-who-stole-the-colour-from-classical-art-?utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=exchange&tblci=GiBp0WTFUBI3-65A4u54LMQJIAg3dAXEJn6N03WDlMTAAiCMjFQott6FnJijnNWtAQ#tblciGiBp0WTFUBI3-65A4u54LMQJIAg3dAXEJn6N03WDlMTAAiCMjFQott6FnJijnNWtAQ

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromophobia

S AMERICA

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Favela_Painting

INDIA

https://www.livepeppy.com/chalrangde/

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/584693964137505850/

Worldwide

https://www.cntraveller.com/gallery/colourful-towns

https://www.rd.com/list/towns-colorful-houses/

Follow me, Angela Lansbury, intrepid tourist, to see the weird and wonderful places and people, food and drink, hotels and museums, worldwide.

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Pushkin - Russia's poet who belongs to the world - in Museums, statues, streets and stanzas

Pushkin's self-portrait.

Alexander Pushkin

Where can you see Pushkin?

1 Statue of Pushkin in Odessa, Ukraine.

2 Pushkin Memorial Apartment, Arbat Street, Moscow

He lived here with his pretty wife, Natalia. 

He wrote the poem, My Monument, including the lines, 

The poet is gone but his poem lives on. (My half-remembered translation. The version I read was the poet is gone but his poems live forever.)

3 Alexander Pushkin Apartment-Museum, 12 Moyka River Embankment, St Petersburg, Russia, where he died after a duel.

You can see his study with its shelves of books.

Lovely statue of Pushkin seated on a bench.

4 Statue in Bachkhysaria, Crimea, SW Ukraine (Annexed by Russia) 

5 Mexico

Statue in Pushkin Park, Mexico city, Mexico.

I could not find anything quotable in Wikiquotes.

Elsewhere I found these:

Write for pleasure and publish for money.

Never despite the translator. He is the mailman of human civilization.

Sad that our finest aspiration

Our freshest dreams and meditations

In swift succession should decay

Like autumn leaves that rot away

I've lived to bury my desires

And see my dreams corrode with rust

Now all that's left are fruitless fires

That burn my empty heart to dust

Struck by the clouds of cruel fate

My crown of summer bloom is sere

Alone and sad I watch and wait

From The Queen Of Spades and other stories, on playing cards for money,

'Play interests me very much,' said Hermann, 'but I am not in the position to sacrifice the necessary in the hope of winning the superfluous.'

From Eugene Onegin, 1833

Love passed, the Muse appeared

The weather of mind got clarity new found

Now free, I once more weave together

Emotion, thought, and magic sound.

Let us end on a happy note.

Moscow - how many strains are fusing in that one sound, for Russian hearts

What store of riches it imparts

I am married and happy. My only wish is that nothing will change.

Better the illusions that exalt us than ten thousand truths.

It is better to have dreamed a thousand dreams that never were than to have never dreamed at all.

When I read his life story at first I blamed his wife for his death.

She was a flirt and her relationship with another man was a scandal and many people thought the man who married her sister did so to get closer to her and to justify being seen in her company. 

However, when I read that her husband had already fought more than twenty duels, I felt that he was playing a game of Russian roulette, as they say, an accident waiting to happen.

I looked up when duels were banned in Russia, the USA and UK. Unfortunately there is no simple exact date, because efforts were made to ban duelling but it still continues sparoadically.

 Useful Websites

TRAVEL DESTINATIONS

RUSSIA, St Petersburg

http://www.saint-petersburg.com/museums/pushkin-museum-memorial-apartment.asp

https://www.thinkchina.sg/impressions-moscow-pushkin-influenced-whole-generation-chinese-part-3?

Vutm_source=Outbrain&utm_medium=CPC&utm_campaign=Remarketing_Singapore&utm_term=MailOnline

QUOTATIONS

https://www.azquotes.com/author/11939-Alexander_Pushkin

Moldova - which has the world's largest and most astonishing wine cellars with Putin, Biden and Merkel associations?

 

Flag of Moldova

Since Covid-19 tourism and travel have been restricted and reduced the countries we could visit. Now with reports of the danger that Russia might expand its plans of expanding military movements, Moldova is also facing an uncertain future. Currently, May 1st, 2022, Wikitravel reports that Moldova has closed its air space and declared a state of emergency.

But where is Moldova, and what are the tourist attractions? Let us at least look at them online whilst they are still at peace and intact. 

Moldova is a neighbour of larger Ukraine, sandwiched between Ukraine and Romania. The land of Moldova has changed hands several times.The country was landlocked until an agreement was reached to give it access to the sea. (The Black Sea.)

A quick glance at Wikipedia showed me an interesting landscape. Plus cave churches. 

The country's name comes from the Moldova River. The capital is Chişinău (Russian Kishinyov, Ukrainian Kishiniv, pronounced "Kishinau" with "nau" as in the English word "know") is the capital of Moldova with a population of around 790,000 plus 250,000 people coming each day for work and entertainment from all over the country and abroad. 

Now let's look at it in more detail.

The main attractions are the wineries, and a few public buildings and museums.

Go next[edit]

Nearby[edit]

• Cricova – A Chişinău suburb close to the city. Famous for its fabulous winery with an underground cellar over 100 km long. An tour, including tasting the dishes in its restaurant, plus wine souvenir will cost you 500 lei. Tours must be booked before arriving. Tours booked on the same day as the tour do not include tasting of wine or food.
• Ghidighici – A lake and Chişinău suburb close to the city in its northern part. It is 9 km. in length and at about 1 km. in width. Ghidighici is also, called as "Chişinău sea". There are many resorts and recreation facilities along its shores. 
• Orheiul Vechi – One of the most visited sites outside of Chisinau and a one-hour bus ride from the capital. It features a nature reserve, monasteries, museums, and archaeological sites.
• Mileștii Mici – With over 200 km of underground roadways, Milestii Mici is registered in the Guinness World Records as the biggest wine collection in the world. It may be easier to book a tour through a travel agency as one must provide a car for the tour. Website, phone: +373 22 382 333.
• Chișinău (Kishinyov) - capital - an administrative municipality. A nice city  to walk around.
• Bălți (Bieltsy) -  pedestrian zone around the central square and old part of the city.
• Soroca - called the "Romani (Gypsy) capital of Moldova." The hill on the west side of town has numerous ornately decorated Roma houses. 
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• The city also boasts the Soroca fort built by Stefan cel Mare in 1499. It was an important link in the chain of fortifications which today are located in Moldova and Ukraine along the Nistru river. Hours can be sporadic especially in the winter.
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  Inside Soroca Fort, Moldova.
  
  
  
• Soroco Fort, Moldova. the original was one of a series built by Peter the fourth, son of Stephen the Great whose statue is in the capital. The original wooden fort was replaced by a stone fortress. The circular shape is for better defence.
•  On the road into town, 5km (3 miles) to the south of Soroca there is a Monument called “The Candle of Gratitude”. reach the 29.5m (98 feet) summit by walking up the 600 stairs.
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• Tiraspol - Moldova's second largest city has a number of museums and a nice park along the Nistru river. Tiraspol is the capital of the region of Pridnestrovie.
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• Ungheni is also one of the most beautiful cities .
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• The Jewish history is interesting but grim. Two major pogroms. At one time in the capital before WW2 as much as 60% of its population was Jewish, decimated in WW2. A few Jews remain and there is a synagogue.
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• The country is poor. Its top three exports include seeds and wine.
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  Wine cellar, Moldova.
  
  

Useful websites

Wine Castle, wine factory, Mimi, Moldova.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moldova

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Moldova

The capital

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chi%C8%99in%C4%83u

Pronunciation of the name of the capital

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ro-Chi%C8%99in%C4%83u.ogg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moldovan_wine

Singapore supplier of Moldovan wine

https://www.facebook.com/wineoclockasia/

Stunning picture and story of the wine cellars, state owned, visited by Merkel and Biden. 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimdobson/2020/02/26/inside-vladimir-putins-outrageous-underground-wine-cellar-in-moldova/?sh=4bdc984b5e1d

http://moldovawine.co.uk/

The cheapest red wine is 13 pounds sterling. Rose wine at 15 pounds. White sparkling 22 pounds sterling. They are in Guildford.

What Are Stolpersteines? A new kind of holocaust memorial

 

Stones recalling the Frank family lived here. 

Maybe these are the first ones you have seen. But once you know about them, it becomes easier to find them. There are 70,ooo of these stones, in more than 700 locations,.

Countries include Austria, Germany

Stolpersteines sound like stepping stones but they are literally stumbling blocks. Stein is stone.  They are raised stones which make you stop and read the engraving that here lived a person before they were taken away by the holocaust. Mostly stones commemorate the last happy home of Jewish families such as the family of Anne Frank. But also other holocaust victims. 

The movement started small and spread city by city, sometimes unanimously welcomed, sometimes facing fierce opposition. Why put stones on the ground instead of the wall? Stones on the ground are harder to read.  You may have to stoop to see the writing. Is it disrespectful to tread on a memorial?

 Sometimes the actual house has gone. Sometimes you want the stones to stay even if the site is later redeveloped, unlike a plaque on a wall which could be removed. Sometimes the house is a private dwelling, but the road outside is public land so it is easier and quicker to get permission. Now these little memorials have spread through several countries.

Stolpersteine are found in Austria, Hungary, the Netherlands, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Russia, Croatia, France, Poland, Slovenia, Italy, Norway, Ukraine, Switzerland, Slovakia and Luxembourg.^[4]

Useful Websites

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_places_with_stolpersteine

About the author

About the Author Angela Lansbury

BIOGRAPHY

Angela Lansbury B A Hons ACG ALB PM5 EH5 DL5 VC5 
The Author of several books, including  Etiquette For Every Occasion. Wedding Speeches & Toasts. How to be the Best Man. Quick Quotations. Who Said What When.

Blogs travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com

dressofthedayangela.blogspot.com

translateforfun.blogspot.com

Braddell Heights Advanced Toastmasters Speakers Club Vice President Public Relations (VPPR), Previous President

Join BHA 1st Wednesday 7pm and 3rd Saturday 2 pm Singapore time 

Vice President Public Relations (VP PR) of Tampines Changkat Advanced;

Secretary of weekly online Singapore International Dynamic Toastmasters Speakers’ Club;

Member and past president of Harrovians toastmasters club, UK; Past member of HOD Toastmasters, London. Past member in Singapore of: Toastmasters Club of Singapore (TCS); Tiarel; and Senja Cashew.

More details from Toastmasters International find a club.

Regular attendee at annual Swanwick Writers’ School, England.

Regular attendee at annual Writers’ Holiday, Wales.

Contributor to poetry readings, and after tea courses on: Speaking On Radio To Promote Books; and Plots And Character.

Winner of many club and area speaking contests in the UK and Singapore.

Language advisor to Empire Toastmasters club in Indonesia.

Language and speech workshops in Singapore.

Speaker on radio and TV in England, Scotland, the USA, and Australia.

Compiler of a school course on public speaking for teachers to prepare pupils for school open days with attending ceremonies before government ministers, Singapore.

Former member of Harrow Writers’ Circle, London, and two writing groups in Singapore.

Angela is on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Twitter. She would be delighted to link up with new friends.

 Please share links to your favourite posts.

Little Known Countries I'll Never Visit But Want to Read about - Jewish Autonomous Oblast in Russia

 

Where is it? The far eastern side of Russia, bordering China.

What is obviously Jewish, or a landmark? This menorah in the fountain. Seven branch candelabra representing the seven days of the week.

Useful Websites

https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Jewish_Autonomous_Oblast

About the Author

About Angela The Author

The Author - Quick Quotations

Angela Lansbury B A Hons  is the author of ten books by regular publishers plus another ten self-published books. 

About Angela The Speaker & Trainer

Angela Lansbury is a teacher of English and other languages to Toastmasters clubs and businesses.

Braddell Heights Advanced Toastmasters Speakers Vice President  Public Relations, Immediate Past President.

Former Area Director S3. Club Coach for Nee Soon South Toastmasters Club.

Also Member of: TCA Toastmasters Club; Singapore Online Dynamic; Harrovians UK

The recent meeting of BHA included Garen Tee on using story telling in business, on bha.learncool.sg . Also an educational on using Powerpoint for posters.

Next BHA meetings, (subject to revision)

1 (Saturday, May 15th, was 2 pm Singapore time, postponed because of national speaking contest.) 

After Vesak day and Hari Raya: 

Postponed to Saturday May 29th, 2021, at 2pm. Login to bha.learncool.sg earlier.

2 Next June meetings 1st Wednesday evening June 2nd at 7 pm Singapore time. 

3 Third Saturday afternoon, June 19th, Singapore time.  Thanks to the old team and Inauguration of New Team. 

Special speech with slides about teamwork in sport and Toastmasters International and life, by the President of West Coast Toastmasters Club who often help BHA with workshops and invite us to give speeches at their club.

Inauguration of new committee by incoming Area Director of S

About Angela The Blogger 

Angela has several blogs on speeches, comedy and song writing and organizing, writing intermittently, but writes almost daily on these three:

travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com

dressofthedayangela.blogspot.com

translateforfun.blogspot.com

See next post on sculptor Tom Harvey.

Please share links to your favourite posts. 

The information on Toastmasters is updated regularly.