Situated on the River Vltava (Moldau) in central Bohemia, Prague has been the political, cultural, and economic centre of the Czech state for more than 1100 years. The city proper is home to more than 1.2 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 1.9 million. Since 1992, the
Czech Republic – Prague City 3
Situated on the River Vltava (Moldau) in central Bohemia, Prague has been the political, cultural, and economic centre of the Czech state for more than 1100 years. The city is home to the liveliest gay and lesbian communities in eastern Europe. There are dozens of LGBT clubs, bars, saunas, cafes, restaurants. The large diverse gay
Taiwan – Taipei and Island Drive 1
A guest photographer living in Taiwan offers a random selection of images from his roving mind’s eye. They range from urban life in Taipei and Kaoshiung to rural mountains and sea surfing. The island of Taiwan, also known as Formosa, is located in East Asia off the coast of mainland China. The island is 394
Czech Republic – Terezin
Terezin (Theresienstadt) is the name of a former military fortress and garrison town in the north of the Czech Republic. During WWII, the Gestapo used this now-peaceful town as ghetto, concentrating Jews from Czechoslovakia, as well as many from Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and Denmark. Though it was not an extermination camp, of more than
Mexico – Mexico City: Chapultepec Castle
Chapultepec Castle has been used for numerous functions over the last three hundred years. It was on this hill that the Aztecs made a temporary home after arriving from northern Mexico in the 1200s. In the early 20th century it was home to Emperor Maximilian of Habsburg until he was executed. For a while it
Egypt – Group Tour (1)
Egypt Group Tour, Gallery A – Luxor, El Gouna, Giza Pyramids/Sphynx and Cairo A group tour with the Dutch Djoser company traveled from Cairo to Abu Simbel in a two-week trip.
Italy – Rome: Spanish Steps
The gracious marble Spanish Steps, built between 1723 and 1726, leads down from the church of Trinita dei Monti to the Piazza di Spagna/Spanish Plaza (so named for the Spanish embassy in the plaza). The boat fountain Fontana della Barcaccia (Fountain of the Old Boat) at the bottom of the steps was built a century earlier
Italy – Sicily: Hill Towns
Scattered around Sicily are numerous charming hill towns such as Enna and Ragusa with old stone buildings, churches or forts and panoramaic views of the undulating land. South of Enna town is the ancient Roman villa del Casale with some of the most extensive and beautiful floor mosaics to be seen anywhere. In Ragusa is
Morocco – Country Tour
A cross-country trip in rented car took us across the land from Casablanca to the capital Rabat, to the Sahara and back to Roman Volubilis. Morocco is color, sand, history and drama. On November 18, 2006, Morocco celebrated the 50th anniversary of its independence from France. Hassan II became King of Morocco on March 3,
Northern South Africa
The South African coast stretches 2,798 kilometres (1,739 mi) and borders both the Atlantic and Indian oceans. Modern human beings have inhabited South Africa for more than 100,000 years. European settlement expanded during the 1820s as the Boers (original Dutch, Flemish, German and French settlers) and the British 1820 Settlers claimed land in the north
Uganda – Kampala City
Kampala city is home to about a million and a half people most of whom are manual laborers tending to the huge food markets, driving worn buses, cementing new structures together or demolishing old ones with sledge hammers. It is a workers’ city that hardly sleeps; it is ambitious in commerce, eager in education, aggressive
Uganda – Masindi Town
Masindi town is on the way to Murchison Falls National Park. It is typical of rural villages with its general impoverished lifestyle, manual labor job force and bustling daily food market. Yet there is a resigned easy-going attitude among the residents who share a common bond in their village: the will to survival by being resourceful.
Uganda – Murchison Falls
This national park in the northwest of Uganda is home to one of the world’s most powerful waterfalls as well as a large wild animal reserve. Here a wide river flow is forced through a six-meter-wide narrow gorge with ferocious force. Visitors can take a boat ride up the Victoria branch of the Nile River
Ireland – Galway and southwest
Limerick is a city and the county seat of County Limerick in the province of Munster, in the midwest of Ireland. The city lies on the River Shannon and has a 2006 population of 91,000. The city itself dates from at least the Viking settlement in 812. The Normans redesigned the city in the 12th
Ireland – Sligo and northwest
Sligo is the county town of County Sligo in northwest Ireland. The poet W. B. Yeats is associated with Sligo. Much of his writing is descriptive of the area around Sligo town. In particular "The Lake Isle of Innisfree" is a reference to a small, uninhabited island on Lough Gill, which is a lake adjacent
Ireland – Derry and north coast
Derry or Londonderry is a city in Northern Ireland. The picturesque old walled city of Londonderry lies on the west bank of the River Foyle with the location of old Derry on the east bank, the present city now covers both banks.It has a population of about 90,000, making it the second-largest city in Northern
Southern South Africa
The South African coast stretches 2,798 kilometres (1,739 mi) and borders both the Atlantic and Indian oceans. Modern human beings have inhabited South Africa for more than 100,000 years. European settlement expanded during the 1820s as the Boers (original Dutch, Flemish, German and French settlers) and the British 1820 Settlers claimed land in the north
Ireland – Belfast
Belfast is the seat of government in Northern Ireland. It is the largest urban area in Northern Ireland and the province of Ulster and the second-largest city in Ireland after Dublin. The city suffered disruption, conflict, and destruction during ‘The Troubles’, but since has undergone a period of calmness and growth. The Troubles was a
UK – Stratford-on-Avon
From a humble Stratford-on-Avon village emerged one of the world’s greatest writers, William Shakespeare (about whom very little is actuallyknown). He was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world’s pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England’s national poet and the "Bard of Avon" (or
Rwanda – Entry + Kigali City
Entering Rwanda overland from Uganda is fairly easy. The usual line of trucks wait for their customs clearance. The country is very rural and highly cultivated. Tea and coffee are grown everywhere. The capital of Kigali is set on several hills that allow panoramic views of the city and suburbs. The infamous ‘Hotel Rwanda’ (of
Rwanda – Kigali to Eastern Border
Kigali, the capital, is built on several hills that offer panoramic views of the city and suburbs. The parliament building is still under repair from bullet and rocket fire (photos 5 and 6) during the civil war carnage in 1994. Photos 10 to 15 show how the very few elite live in big houses on
Kenya – Nairobi: Kibera Slum
The huge Kibera slum suburb of Nairobi–as well as the Methare-North slum–was the scene of violent riots and killings that erupted after the flawed presidential election in December 2007. These photos were taken during a pause in the violence. I visited the area accompanied by a friend, Thomas Gale, a university professor in Nairobi who
Zambia – Lusaka
Lusaka is the capital of Zambia; it’s a non-descript city of about 1.5 million people that bustles in the day and rolls up at night. In recent years, Lusaka has become a popular urban settlement for Zambians and tourists alike. Its mostly stable government and improved infrastructure sector have increased donor confidence and as such
Zambia – Victoria Falls (1)
Victoria Falls are very spectacular from any point of view, land or air. Although the Falls constitute neither the highest nor the widest waterfall in the world, the claim is that it’s the largest is based on a width of 1.7 kilometres (1 mi) and height of 108 meters (360 ft), forming the largest sheet
Zambia – Victoria Falls (2)
Victoria Falls are very spectacular from any point of view, land or air. Although the Falls constitute neither the highest nor the widest waterfall in the world, the claim is that it’s the largest is based on a width of 1.7 kilometres (1 mi) and height of 108 meters (360 ft), forming the largest sheet