The following is straight from the notebook I had with me at the time and, I believe, helps give a feel for what it is like walking around Herat: …Wandering around Herat shafts of sunlight penetrate serpentine alleys lined by canvas-covered wooden stalls; the harsh light illuminates the faces of the merchants and their bountiful … Continue reading
After following the Georgian Military Highway to the Russian border, my Italian interpreter and I felt like stretching our legs a little after so much driving. I stopped at a crude dirt track leading up into the mountains of the Caucasus and we decided to hike up the road to see where it went. On … Continue reading
Perhaps not surprisingly to those that know me, I found the military dimension to Arunachal Pradesh interesting. Tensions between India and China run high in this area… Currently, India administers all of Arunachal Pradesh. However, the Chinese lay claim to the majority of Arunachal Pradesh as they believe it to be an extension of the … Continue reading
An evening exploration of the streets of Damascus… “…no recorded event has occurred in the world but Damascus was in existence to receive news of it. Go back as far as you will into the vague past, there was always a Damascus… She has looked upon the dry bones of a thousand empires and will … Continue reading
This picture was taken in 2008 on Christmas Eve… Circumstances have not improved for Claudia since I took that photograph. I suppose it is perhaps for the best that I refrained that evening from reminding Claudia that we all die anyway and, therefore, her concerns were meaningless and irrelevant in the broader scheme of things. … Continue reading
From April 3, 1860 to November 21, 1861, mail was delivered by the Pony Express between St. Joseph, Missouri and Sacramento, California utilizing a relay system between 190 stations along the route. A fresh horse was used every 12-15 miles and a new rider was used every 75-100 miles. It took 75 horses to go … Continue reading
If I have a layover somewhere that I’ve never been before, I’ll usually try to extend it by at least a few hours or even a few days. I did this with great success in Dubai and more recently in Latvia on our return from Lebanon and Syria. Latvia and Dubai were not exactly at … Continue reading
The Velvet Rocket 