Geography - Albania and The Accursed Mountains

[Steve]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, "annemehr" <annemehr at y...> wrote:
> --- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, "Steve" <bboy_mn at y...> wrote:
> > 
> > 
> > The subject of why Voldemort chose the Albanian forest to hide in 
> > ... I thought it might help the discussion to have some maps, ....
> > 
> > ...edited...
> 


> Thanks for the info! There was a *lot* there, so I haven't taken the
> time yet to look at all of it, but I have a few comments anyway!
> 
> 1. ...edited...
> 
> 2. Actually, it all makes me really wonder how Voldemort ever
> expected the DEs to find him (...).
> 

bboy_mn:
I'm not sure Voldemort really did expect anyone to come and find him.
Voldemort doesn't rule by consent, he rules by force; rules with an
iron hand. I guess I could summaries it by saying that when the
biggest bully on the playground gets lost, the geeks and nerds aren't
really that eager to go looking for him.

Voldemort did claim to hold out hope, but I think deep down he knew it
was a pretty false hope. None of them ever would have come either. The
only reason Peter/Wormtail sought out Voldemort is because he had no
where else he could go. 

I think he chose 'The Accursed Mountains' because, in general, Albania
is a very isolated country, I don't mean geographically isolated, but
politically and socially isolated. The terrain is forested, and the
mountains are incredably rugged and inhospitable. It would have been
very difficult for any one to find him in such a place.

I keep thinking that one or more Death Eaters must have or will wise
up and see that their lives are much better off without Voldemort. As
I have said many times before, Voldemort may make a great tyrant, but
he is not capable of running a stable, prosperous, and functional
country. Stability and reliability are the keys to economic
prosperity, and Voldemort will deliver neither of these. A wizard
world in chaos with a destroyed economy will not be a happy place.



> 3. That photo that's wallpapered behind the Albanian photos -- any
> chance of seeing that in positive?  :-)
> 

bboy_mn:

The original photo, which I have, is from Rupert Grint's appearance on
the Oprah Winfrey Show (along with Daniel and Emma).

The background image is actually embossed first, which turns it all
shades of grey and giving it a ...well... embossed appearance. Then I
add colored lighting effects like the spot light shining across his
Rupert's face. Finally, I reduce the images to fit the screen.

> 4. All this has reminded me of a song.  Who remembers the series
> "Cheers?"  Remember Coach?  One time he was explaining to Sam and the
> others how he used to remember facts for school:  he'd set them to
> music.  Then, for an example, he sang this to the tune of "When the
> Saints Go Marching In:"
> 
> Albania,
> Albania,
> You border on the Adriatic.
> Your terrain is mainly mountainous,
> And your chief export is chrome.
> 
> I never forgot that song.
> 
> Annemehr
> with thanks again for Steve, and regretting all the places she'll
> never get to visit...


bboy_mn:

YES! YES! YES! Ever since the discussion of Albania came up, I've
heard Coach's voice over and over in my head, singing that song.

If you email me directly at my user name at Yahoo.com, I will send you
the original photo(s). Although, most HP photo galleries will have
these images in them. 

bboy_mn