|
People in his village said he's insane.
He was considered the idiot of said village in France.
But Francois Zanella, a 56-years-old ex-coal miner (!) from Morsbach, France, did something in that small village far away from any water *right in his small garden* that no one would have ever expected to find there.
Within eleven (!) years of work ALL BY HIMSELF, he built a cruiseship.
I repeat: A single old mine worker fulfilled the dream of his life by building a CRUISESHIP far away from any water. A *giant* cruiseship, not the model of one.
This is the cruiseship, the "Majesty of the seas":
The ship was transported on the 23rd of June to a (far away!) river which would be able to accomodate that giant ship - and it actually really *SWAM* and did what a ship is supposed to do.
By all means - I ask *everyone* reading this entry to go to Francois Zanella's site and write him at least one very, very nice email (he doesn't have an own address - but you can write to him via his friend's website by clicking there on the red letter box almost on top of the site - write "To Francois" in the subject, and the friend will pass them on) - of course, you can also browse the site to see the progress of the shipmaking during the years, and how the ship came to the water.
By now Francois is considered the hero of the small french village, but I think that each and every one of us can look up to Francois Zanella and see in him all of OUR life's dreams come true, because what that man did is a true inspiration and the living and swimming proof of the phrase that if you just work on something hard and long enough, you can absolutely manage *everything* you imagine.
Thank you, Francois, for gracing this world with your presence. If just *one* of our politicians was as brave as you, if just few of us had just half of your patience - what a world could this be.
The "Majesty of the seas" is currently still in the harbour of Sarreguemines, France, for final fittings. If you're *ANYWHERE* nearby, visit Francois and his ship.
Best wishes,
Naergi
| 