Cultural Geography Blog

Excellent to see that the greatest sporting event is coming to the UK again in 2027. The world’s biggest bike races, the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, will both take place in the UK in 2027, marking the first time both the men’s and women’s Grand Départs will take place in the same country (outside France). England, Scotland, and Wales are all set to host stages of this famous event in 2027, making it the largest free sporting spectacle in British history with millions expected to line the streets for the return of the Tour de France, and to witness the first ever staging of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift in the UK. The men’s Tour de France will begin in Edinburgh, Scotland. Further route details for both the men’s and women’s 2027 Grand Départs will be announced in the Autumn, with the focus on maximising the opportunity to showcase Britain’s diverse landscapes alongside the nation’s enthusiasm for cycling and inspiring as many people as possible through ...

This looks like a rebrand of a site I've used for a while. Videos have been filmed from cars driving through cities around the world. You can listen to music on the local radio station or in the car, and also opt to hear the background sounds as well, which include the engine and street noise, sat-nav instructions etc. This site has more cities and different versions of the city in some cases, with multiple videos. I put Reykjavik on the screen during an Open Day at my school and enjoyed watching a car following familiar roads from trips there. There are some fascinating cities to drive through.  Think about the impression that you get from the views of one vehicle.  Which part of the city has been chosen to represent the city? Does the route go past the 'nicest' parts or the Central Business District?  Has it been selected to avoid the busiest intersections where the car might end up standing still for some time in queues? Can you work out where in the city it is with th...

Here’s a song that I made using SUNO: a tool which Matt Podbury introduced me to at Practical Pedagogies which uses AI to write a song in whatever style you want, and on a theme.  This was to go alongside one of my favourite lessons, when we explore the story of the Ever Laurel and the 29000 bath toys fell into the North Pacific in 1992 and revealed some of the workings of ocean gyres and their role in concentrating ocean plastics, to which the bath toys added as they disintegrated over the decades since. Of course the frogs, turtles and beavers are always left out of the narrative...  Enjoy the Electronic beats of ‘Rubber Duck Boom’. Sing along to the chorus! Listen on Suno

LOVE is a piece by the American artist Robert Indiana. You may have seen it in a number of locations. I saw one installation of LOVE in New York for the first time in 2019 - close to MOMA - on the corner of 6th Avenue and 55th Street in Manhattan. It was a popular place for a photo opportunity. The image LOVE was first created in 1964 in the form of a card which Robert Indiana sent to several friends and acquaintances in the art world.  In 1965, he was invited to propose an artwork to be featured on the Museum of Modern Art's annual Christmas card. He chose a blue green variant of the image. It has also appeared on US postage stamps. LEGO has now released a version of the sculpture, and it was a gift for my wife this year. It is a good build and looks nice when completed. Just got to work out where to put it... Images: Alan Parkinson

I'm heading for Iceland again in April, and have made a start on updating my notes for the group I will be taking.  I do this for each group that I take, and also have a chat with the group leader to ensure that I pitch my explanations and talking on the coach (and in situ) correctly. There is plenty of street art in the city of Reykjavik (and of course in other parts of the country). I've added a few images that I've taken below. These are mostly off the street called Laugavegur.  I know roughly where they are, but am going to try to map them and then piece them together to make a nice map. Images: Alan Parkinson Guide to Iceland has produced an illustrated list of their own favourites.  This is not easy to navigate as each icon needs to be clicked on. I've produced a Google Form where you can enter the location of your favourite street art.  If you know the What3Words address that would be an additional extra. The form link is here: It would be good to eventually h...

During the Easter holidays I am going to Paris for the first time in a good few years.  What are your must see attractions to do in the city of lights? We'll be staying in the Montparnasse area of the city. I intend to visit a few places of geographical and cultural interest of course: - Galleries including Louvre, D'Orsay etc. - Place de Saint Sulpice - location for Georges Perec's legendary observations which I have written about many times before and shall be taking along for a photo opportunity on Perec's bench - Seine wanderings - some film location spotting e.g. Amelie locations around Montmartre I'm going to have a look at visiting Notre Dame too if possible. Image: Paris from above, taken by me on the way somewhere... Romania I think....