E - 87 : Why did Hannibal walk to Italy?
Now that all my 2017 and 2018 Blogs have been transferred to this site, it is time to switch on the automated notification mail again....
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hbanziger
Mar 25, 20214 min read
E - 108 : Spartacus - A Hollywood Fairytale
Kirk Douglas as Spartacus (111 - 71 BC) - one of my favourite movies as a child Do you remember the 1960 movie “Spartacus” with Kirk...
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hbanziger
Mar 22, 20213 min read
E - 111 : Cephalonia - A Name That Lives in Infamy
Cephalonia is today well known for its spectacular beaches on its West Coast On our way to Ithaca during the last week of sailing, we...
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hbanziger
Mar 8, 20214 min read
E - 125 : Corfu, Topographic Maps, War Academy and the ICRC
Corfu in 1716 during the last Ottoman Siege Working on the last week of our summer sailing made me think of Corfu and how this island,...
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hbanziger
Mar 7, 20216 min read
E - 126 : Thanks to Malta No Oil for the Axis
HMS Eagle sinking after being torpedoed during "Operation Pedestal", August 1942 We talked about the strategic importance of the...
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hbanziger
Feb 11, 20215 min read
E - 150 : Thunder over La Valletta
View on La Valetta from the bay between Senglea (left) and Birgu (right). The Knights Head Quarter, the San Angelo Fort is prominently...
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hbanziger
Feb 10, 20215 min read
E - 151 : Remembering 1943
Canadian Troops on the Way to Sicily in their Landing Craft on 10 July 1943, the same Day of the Year we start our Sailing in Malta...
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hbanziger
Feb 6, 20214 min read
E - 155b : Barbarossa vs Star-shaped Cities 0:1
Otranto with its reinforced walls after the Turks conquered it in 1480 I know, I know. The title is fictitious. The Turkish Admiral lived...
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hbanziger
Jan 28, 20215 min read
E - 164 : Muslim Crescent on Peter's Mosque?
Title Page of the Video "Why did the Ottomans not conquer Italy?" Speculating about alternative outcomes in history is a bit esoteric but...
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hbanziger
Jan 26, 20215 min read
E - 166 : The Decline & Fall of Magna Graecia
Preparing Fire Wood for Winter 2022 with Ahmed Wanted to write this piece yesterday but the beautiful weather in the Ardèche was too...
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hbanziger
Jan 18, 20214 min read
E - 174 : How the Merchants of Genoa, Pisa and Amalfi became the Normans' Shippers
Medieval Illustration of Greek Warriors Sailing to Troy - in Contemporary Ships though! Even though we sail along Genovese trading...
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hbanziger
Jan 8, 20213 min read
E - 184: What Legacy did the Normans Leave behind in Southern Italy?
Castello di Svevo Yesterday, I talked a lot about Vikings or Normans who came to Southern Italy for adventure and getting rich quickly –...
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hbanziger
Jan 7, 20215 min read
E - 185: How the Vikings got to Sicily
As a student in Senior High I loved historical maps. One of the maps which intrigued me most was a chart showing the Vikings’ journeys...
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hbanziger
Jan 1, 20214 min read
E - 190: Not a Pyrrhic victory - How the Royal Navy's Innovations Carried the Night
A few days ago we talked about how Rome expanded into Southern Italy and how the Greek culture was adopted by Romans. We also learnt...
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hbanziger
Aug 7, 20203 min read
D + 27: From World Power to Frontier Town
To everybody's surprise, the outbord engine of our tender went on strike last night and would not get back to life despite a lot of TLC....
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hbanziger
Jul 24, 20203 min read
D + 13: Two Sister Islands
We changed flags today. The French was replaced by the Italian tricolour and the Corsican One Moor had to give way to Sardinia’s Four....
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hbanziger
Jul 21, 20202 min read
D + 10: Would Dolphins Have Welcomed the Pirate Turgut Reis?
Yesterday, we aimed for Girolata, the bay on the west coast, where in 1540 the Genovese fleet captured Turgut Reis, after he had sacked...
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hbanziger
Jul 20, 20203 min read
D + 9: Where Nelson Lost his Right Eye
Calvi in the early morning hours Every morning when we wake up and meet for coffee on the deck, it is beautifully quiet, the air is still...
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hbanziger
Jul 16, 20203 min read
D + 5: Faking History in San Martino
When discussing our plans for today over dinner last night, we thought we would visit the two Spanish Fortresses, buy some white wine...
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hbanziger
Jul 15, 20203 min read
D + 4: When the Medici met the Ottomans
After a quiet night in Portoferraio which has far fewer visitors than in a normal year – maybe a third – we intend to sail to the south...
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