Described by Cicero as “the greatest Greek city and the most beautiful of them all”, Siracusa still possesses quite a bit of charm: Located on the southeastern corner of Sicily, the 2,700-year-old city was once one of the major powers of the Mediterranean world. Siracusa was founded in 734 or 733 BC by Greek settlers … Continue reading
A Romanian soldier holds a machine gun while on guard outside the House of the People days after the December 1989 uprising, which marked the end of dictator Nicolae Ceausescu’s rule: Security forces holding talks with Romanians following the execution of Ceausescu to see where to go next: Discussing the future: Photos by Patrick Durand … Continue reading
The southern city of Tyre, Lebanon, during the 2006 war with Israel: The use of the word “Sour” in the title is not a commentary on the taste of Tyre, but rather is an alternative name for Tyre… Tyre’s origins are thought to date to around the 3rd millennium BC, when the original founders are … Continue reading
Agrigento is located on the southern coast of Sicily and is renowned as the site of the ancient Greek city of Akragas. So, I’ll focus on that first… In its day, Akragas was one of the richest and most famous of the Greek colonies. Ancient Akragas covered a huge area — much of which is … Continue reading
There is a lot going on right now in the Horn of Africa, and in Somalia in particular. I thought this would be an opportune time to visually review some of the components in this drama… The Actors: Somali pirates: Ethiopia’s Ogaden rebels: Fighters working for various Somali warlords: The African Union: The Kenyan military: … Continue reading
I can’t recall if this is Rome or Catania. Either way, it is Italy and a scene one will see recreated every night in thousands of locations across Italy. I liked all of the motorcycles parked out front, suggestive of later excitement to come… Continue reading
It took me a while to find St. Louis as there is, unfortunately, little left of this once-thriving town to lead one to it. To get here (on the road leading to Howland Flat which one picks up a little outside of La Porte) travel for about a mile past the St. Louis Bridge up … Continue reading
The Velvet Rocket 