The Russian Exclave of Kaliningrad

Posted on August 9, 2014 by

I am sure this is common knowledge in Europe, or at least Eastern Europe, but it isn’t often that I learn a new word at the same time as have my geographical knowledge of Europe revised.

Most people know the term enclave, but what about exclave? That is, per Dictionary.com, “a portion of a country geographically separated from the main part by surrounding alien territory”.

Apparently, Russia has just such a geographically separated portion of its country on the Baltic Sea – specifically, Kaliningrad.

Kaliningrad is a seaport city and the administrative center of Kaliningrad Oblast, the Russian exclave between Poland and Lithuania on the Baltic Sea. The territory borders on NATO and European Union members Poland and Lithuania, and is geographically separated from the rest of Russia.

The locality was a site of the ancient Old Prussian settlement/fort Twangste. In 1255, a new fortress was built on this site by the Teutonic Knights during the Northern Crusades, and was named “Königsberg” in honour of King Ottokar II of Bohemia.

Until the end of World War II, the area formed the northern part of the former East Prussia.

The city was largely destroyed during World War II; its ruins were captured by the Red Army in 1945 and its German population fled or was removed by force.

It was renamed Kaliningrad after the death of Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, Mikhail Kalinin, one of the original Bolsheviks.

All military and civilian land links between the region and the rest of Russia have to pass through members of NATO and the EU.

Via Wikipedia.

The Republic of Molossia in Dayton, Nevada

Posted on August 7, 2014 by

[T]he Republic of Molossia, is a micronation, founded by Kevin Baugh and headquartered solely from his home near Dayton, Nevada. The Republic of Molossia claims to be a sovereign, independent nation-state, completely surrounded by the United States.

It consists of Baugh’s house (known as the Government House), about 0.001 acres in size, as well as 1.3 acres of surrounding property, enclaved by Nevada. It formerly claimed a property in Pennsylvania as well.

The name Molossia is derived from the Spanish word morro which means “small rocky hill”.

On September 3, 1999, Baugh created the Republic of Molossia as a latter day successor to a childhood make-believe kingdom called “The Grand Republic of Vuldstein”, and declared himself to be its president.

Molossia recognizes several other micronations, with numerous treaties enacted to this end. In May 2008, a summit was held with Grand Duke Paul, leader of the Grand Duchy of Greifenberg, another micronation.

Plans were made for the revitalization of the League of Small Nations, a nearly defunct organization devoted to the prosperity of all micronations claiming land.

I absolutely adore all these micronations. This one is even in a state of war with East Germany on the fantastic pretext that Ernst Thälmann Island, supposedly granted to East Germany by Cuba in 1972, is sovereign territory of East Germany (it actually is owned by Cuba).

And, yes, it is absolutely searchable on Google Maps, indeed showing up as the “Republic of Molossia” off Marry Lane Road off Highway 50 east of Reno.

Via Wikipedia.

Tiébélé Village in Burkina Faso

Posted on August 2, 2014 by

[A]t the base of a hill overlooking the surrounding sun-drenched West African savannah lies an extraordinary village, a circular 1.2 hectare complex of intricately embellished earthen architecture. It is the residence of the chief, the royal court and the nobility of the Kassena people, who first settled the region in the 15th century.

In Tiébélé, the Cour Royale is made up of a series of small mud brick structures inside a compound, covered with natural clay paints in elaborate geometric patterns to differentiate them from the homes of the common people.

Another report from Olga Stavrakis on TravelwithOlga.com describes her own visit:

It was only through a process of year long negotiations that we were permitted to enter the royal palace.

[W]e were told in advance that we must not wear anything red and we may not carry an umbrella. Only the chiefly noble family is permitted that privilege and to do so would constitute a great affront to our hosts.

This actually reminds me a bit of the libraries of Timbuktu in Mali.

There’s a vast amount of fascinating history in Africa that schools in the West rarely touch on, which is a real pity given the tapestry of knowledge there like the awesome fetish supermarket of Togo.

Photos via Rita Willaert on flickr.
Via Messy Nessy Chic for more photos and the full fantastic article.

Russia’s Vodka Museum

Posted on August 1, 2014 by

Reopened in 2008 in Russia’s second largest city of St. Petersburg, the Russian Vodka Museum explores the creation, packaging, ritual, and culture of the country’s favorite drink.

There are rows and rows of empty bottles in all manner of shapes from human figures to machine guns and an extensive collection of traditional short vodka glasses most often used to drink vodka straight as opposed to using it as a mixer (which in itself is a concept probably better not discussed in the museum).

The whimsical collection of stoppers on display are also of note, shaped like heads, animals, and mythical creatures.

Which reminds me, I should take this opportunity to provide the recipe I personally use for habañero vodka:

Get good quality, clear, unflavored vodka. Pour out maybe 15-20% of it (need the space for the habanero). Yes, if you pour it out down the sink then evil forces will come and eat your soul in punishment for alcohol abuse.
Pick up about a dozen or so fresh habañeros (recommend wearing gloves for this part)
Remove the stems, slice the habaneros in half and force them into the bottle with the vodka. If you remove the seeds before putting the habañeros in I will call you a coward. Just saying.
Close bottle. Shake. Refrigerate. Take out a couple of times every day and shake before replacing.
Repeat for 2-12 weeks. The longer you leave it in the more brutal it will become. My record was three months, and it was truly murderous.
Take out bottle, strain vodka into another bottle.
Shake before drinking, then proceed to dare people to drink a shot of ‘s Hellwater, a.k.a. Tears of the Demon.

Note: This method also works well in a not-going-to-murder-you-way with serrano peppers or horseradish (use cream, not root).

Via Atlas Obscura for more photos and the full article.

The Singing Tower and Library of the Bells

Posted on July 29, 2014 by

Perched on one of the highest points of peninsular Florida, surrounded by hundreds of acres of orange groves, palm trees, ferns, great oaks and a 15 feet deep moat is this rather stunning centrepiece, a soaring 200 foot pink marble tower.

[F]ounded in 1921 [by] Dutch immigrant Edward W. Bok, editor of the popular women’s magazine Ladies Home Journal. [He] was spending his winter at the nearby Lake Wales Ridge and thought it would be the perfect place to create a bird sanctuary on its highest hill.

Attempts were made to introduce flamingos to the sanctuary several times, but efforts proved unsuccessful because the birds couldn’t survive the colder winters of central Florida.

Instead, swans swim around the tower’s moat today.

I want this apparently rarified membership just so I can climb to the top and scream, “Come to me, my flying monkeys! Come to your new master!”

Well, that and all the books. In the secret library on the top floor. Dedicated to the esoteric subject of…bells.

Photos by Bok Tower Gardens.
Via Messy Nessy Chic for the full fascinating article, including many more photos.

Ape Island

Posted on July 25, 2014 by

Our crew traveled to remote Liberia to discover an area inhabited solely by former lab tested chimpanzees who survived disease and two civil wars.

We go to the island, interview the locals and meet the scientists involved in the testing facility 25 years ago.

This documentary is a Motherboard production, made possible by 20th Century Fox’s Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.

Via CNET.

The Grave in the Middle of the Road

Posted on July 25, 2014 by

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Amity was a small village near Sugar Creek. In 1808, a 14 year old girl named Nancy Kerlin married a man named William Barnett, and the two lived happily in the area, having 11 children. Nancy passed away in 1831, and William buried her on her favorite plot of land. Nancy was the first to be laid to rest there, but before long, other locals followed suit and an official cemetery was built around Nancy’s grave.

Decades later, a National Guard training camp, Camp Atterbury, was coming together and developers began the process of moving the graves that were in the way. Despite objections from Nancy’s extended family, the county pushed ahead with their plans.

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In retaliation, Nancy’s grandson Daniel grabbed his shotgun and camped out near his grandmother’s plot, refusing to allow anyone to step foot on the mound. For weeks, Daniel risked his life, defending Nancy’s final resting place, until every road worker was too terrified to cross his path.

At this point, the county relented, and simply split the lanes right down the middle and worked around the plot.

Via Roadtrippers.

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Category Archives: Misplaced Places

The Russian Exclave of Kaliningrad

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The Republic of Molossia in Dayton, Nevada

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Tiébélé Village in Burkina Faso

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Russia’s Vodka Museum

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The Singing Tower and Library of the Bells

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Ape Island

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The Grave in the Middle of the Road

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