The Island of a Thousand Fires The origins of extracting and working iron on the island of Elba (“Blue mineral” for the Egyptians, “sideros” for the Greek) goes back to the mists of time. The ores in Elba are among the oldest iron deposits in the world. Infact since the dawning of history, the position of the island has always been strategic both because of the sea trade control and because of its inexhaustible mineral resources that have always attracted the great Mediterranean powers.

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It’s not uncommon to come across virtually deserted villages throughout Paphos Region. Many of these villages became ghost towns after the Turkish invasion of Northern Cyprus in 1974. As the Turks-Cypriots fled north, they left their homes as they were. The land and property being held protected for the day they might return. The result is that villages stand empty for nearly 40 years now, during which time they have decayed to the point of being ruins.

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This is where it all began. I mean, why I took a specialist interest in mining stuff. The mines of southern Sardinia: Monteponi, Masua, Iglesias, Ingurtosu & Piscinas.

Mines, not your average tourist attractions. But instead of beaching yourself on Sardinia’s glitzy northern ‘jet set’ coast, try digging into the -industrial- heritage of the deep south.

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                                    Ingurtosu Mine      

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Slate Islands, The Islands That Roofed The World   Sometimes you come across a random island. It seduces you and you become attracted to this seemingly unattainable, but interesting looking stranger. You start a long-distance relationship. And eventually, you wanna see it up close and personal.

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Pontins Holiday Camp at Plémont Bay first opened in the 1920s and was occupied during the war by the Nazis. This was the first of two holiday camps acquired by Pontins in Jersey (Channel Islands). It was purchased in 1961 for £375,000 (equivalent to over £6 million in today’s money) and was completely rebuilt with all new chalets and buildings. The camp closed at the end of 2000 and was meanwhile lying abandoned and derelict, but the are will be re-wilded in the future.

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