At the young age of 6 months the wrapping was obviously the most exciting aspect of Christmas. Later he has learned to appreciate the true meaning - that the Lord sent his Son into the world to save us.
Grave of King Zog of the Albanians (1895-1961), proclaimed King 1928, in exile from 1939. According to Associated Press 9 October 2009, plans are under way to move the remains of King Zog to his homeland.
King Zog's elder sister Princess Adile (1890-1966) and her son Salih Doshishti (1913-1983) are also buried at Cimetière de Thiais.
The back side of the Zogu grave.
Grave of Abdel Rahman Rustem (1891-1970), a member of the royal court of Albania (?).
King Zog's grave seen from a distance.
Memorials of people who have donated their bodies to science.
Different ethnic groups and different countries give different traditions of memorials.
Le cimetière parisien de Thiais (Cimetière de Thiais) in Paris can be reached by taking the metro line no. 7 to Villejuif-Louis-Aragon (end of line 7) and then bus no. 185 or 285 (six stops). When you enter the cemetery you will find a big sign with a map of the various sections. King Zog's grave is pointed out. See also the map (in pdf) at the official website.
I visited the Notre Dame Cemetery in Ottawa on the same day I went to Beechwood Cemetery, but it started to rain rather heavily on my arrival, so I wasn't able to see much. But at least I got to see the grave of Sir Wilfrid Laurier before I had to give in. See Wikipedia or the official website for information on other graves.
Now the Scandinavian heirs have published a book about their impressions of their polar cruising, «Kongelig Polartokt» («Royal Polar Expedition» - or rather «Royal Polar Cruising»). The publisher, Cappelen Damm, gives the following description:
«Join three committed royal heirs on an unforgettable journey in the Arctic Sea, to Svalbard and Greenland. Through their own texts they pass on their own impressions and, not least, their commitment for the areas in the north and the climate challenges we are confronted with.
With them on their journey they had invited three researchers, who help us to understand the climate changes and what consequences they may have.»
The preamble is written by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, who describes the book as «bemerkelsesverdig» («remarkable»).
(Photo: Veronica Melå, The Royal Court)
I have not read the book, but the Norwegian national newspaper Aftenposten published its review today, written by Ole Mathismoen. He describes the book as more than «jippo» («PR gimmick»): The book is easy to read, where difficult words are replaced by good explanations. It is far from pretentious. With this book the three royals’ Arctic trips have become something very different from what it looked liked when they took place, an expensive «jippo» with a royalty-fixated press corps following them. With this book the two-part journey has become some of the most important they have done. The book will reach a totally different audience than the politicians, environmentalists and journalists normally establish contact with when the climate threat is on the agenda. Some people might be criticizing the royals for taking such a clear viewpoint on a topic which still, at least to some extent, is politically controversial.» The rather biased journalist concludes with the pompous line «I’d rather have brave royal heirs than vague and evasive politicians».
Well, it might be a good thing – at least occasionally – that royals dare to take a clear viewpoint. But many could as easily criticize them for once again being «politically correct». One wonders what the public would have said if the royal heirs had made a more critical view of «the established truths» about climate change and its causes?
