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What does Franco look like?

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Outside the fortress walls of Melilla La Vieja is a statue of Franco. It was here in the Spanish enclave of Melilla on the North African coast that Franco launched the Spanish Civil War in 1936.

Franco Statue
[Franco Statue]

Looking into his face I realised that I didn’t know what Franco looked like. The Spanish Civil war is usually just a bynote in the Anglo history of Europe, seeing that WWII takes up so much narration time. The Spanish Civil war is usually mentioned to explain why Spain sat out the war. So I know what Hitler and Stalin look like, but not Franco.

Face of Franco
[Face of Franco]

Pat Sir John Betjeman on the back for saving St Pancras

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At the St Pancras International station is a statue of English Poet Sir John Betjeman. The sculpture was commissioned to recognise the huge role John Betjeman played in the saving of St Pancras from demolition in the 1960s.

Sir John Betjeman statue by Martin Jennings
[Sir John Betjeman statue by Martin Jennings]

It’s hard to believe that this station was threatened with demolition, but during the 1960′s it was. During this time Victorian elegance was out and concrete brutalism was in.

Down the road from St Pancras the grand Euston station was demolished, only to be replaced by the abomination that stands today. Betjeman tried to save Euston, but did not succeed. Fortunately his efforts saved St Pancras from the wrecking ball.

If you are at St Pancras to travel or just there to marvel at the roof as Betjeman is apparently doing, go over to Betjeman’s statue and give him a pat on the back.

Then over the years as appreciative travellers pat him on the back, may a shiny smooth spot appear on his back as a visible token of thanks from all who pass through this station.

Manneken Pis – Brussels

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Manneken Pis is one of the most well known places of Brussels. Some say it’s also the most disappointing tourist attraction of Europe. But as it is one of those things you “must see”, people crowd around this diminutive statue.

Mannekin Pis
[Mannekin Pis]

Manneken Mascot

Manneken Pis is the unofficial symbol of Brussels. Every tourist shops contain Manneken Pis related items.

Mannekin Pis...on your dinner
[Mannekin Pis...on your dinner]

Other Pis Statues

Continuing the toileting statue theme, there are two more statues to see, the Jeanneke Pis and this one of a dog.

Dog Pis - Rue Des Chartreux
[Dog Pis - Rue Des Chartreux]

A day trip to Dinant – Belgium

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When I travel with a rail pass in Europe, I like to make the most of my days by visiting cities that are on the way to other places, and places that may not have budget accommodation. Dinant is such a place, which I visited using my Benelux rail pass.

Dinant sits between a rock and a river, which makes for a scenic little town. Dinant’s two main buildings dominate the view, the Cathedral of Notre Dame and the Citadel, which is perched over the town on a cliff.

Dinant Citadel and Cathedral
[Dinant Citadel and Cathedral]

Dinant is famous for being the home of Adolphe Sax, the inventor of the Saxophone.

Adolphe Sax
[Adolphe Sax]

Godzilla and I in Tokyo

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On my city map of Tokyo I noticed a dot marked “Godzilla Statue”. In my mind’s eye I pictured a statue at least one storey high of the lizard, perhaps eating a car, with life size people statues fleeing the scene in terror. With this image in my head I made straight for said dot.

I have heard that some people are disappointed when they see The Little Mermaid in Copenhagen or the Mannekin Pis in Brussels. They usually say that it wasn’t as big as they expected. I don’t see how you could have got your expectations so high, seeing that they already tell you that the Mermaid is little, and Mannekin Pis is Brabantian for little man piss after all (its website though must be the most comprehensive for any statue in the world).

So I have to say that I was a little disappointed when I saw the bonsaied Godzilla.

Godzilla and I - Tokyo
[Godzilla and I]