The rapid-fire invasion of Iraq and then Kurdistan by ISIS, as the Islamic State was calling itself at the time, stunned the world. For several hours, it even presented an existential crisis for Kurdistan itself as the momentum of the invasion by ISIS brought them to within mere kilometers of Erbil – with little standing …
Even in a country with a wealth of beautiful landscapes, the Valle de Cocora still stands out. The broad, emerald green valley stretches east of the village of Salento into the lower reaches of Parque Nacional Natural Los Nevados where it is framed by sharp peaks. Everywhere you’ll see wax palm, the largest palm in …
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 …
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 …
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 …
If you ever make it to Omdurman, Sudan (across the river from Khartoum) be sure to check out the Omdurman camel market. Or, you can just read this site… Most of the animals are brought in (on foot – like the old days of the American cowboy) from Darfur and South Sudan since these areas …
Baalbek has long enjoyed a reputation as home to some of the finest Roman ruins anywhere in the world. However, even without the Roman ruins, it would still be an interesting town… To reach Baalbek, one passes through the hot, dry Bekaa, not so much a valley as a high-altitude plain, with its Hezbollah flags …
Viewed from a distance, Port-au-Prince seems a pleasant and mellow Caribbean port city: Once one is out on the streets though, the fact that all is not well in Port-au-Prince soon becomes apparent. And the January 12, 2010 earthquake only served to push Haiti closer to the top of the Failed States Index… Destruction, dysfunction …
Zululand is an interesting place with quite a history…
Chernobyl Reactor # 4 shortly after the meltdown: Part 1: Chernobyl and Reactor # 4 Until the late 1990s it would have been impossible for me to come here. The whole area was sealed off. Now though, the United Nations is encouraging “ecotourism” to the former Chernobyl disaster zone in order to help the area …
There aren’t a lot of roads in Somalia. Those that do exist mostly pass through rough countryside, interspersed with the occasional village and frequent checkpoint. Upon arriving at a checkpoint, if you don’t have an armed guard with you, a bribe will be required and all of your passport details will be carefully taken down …
Rocca Salimbeni and Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena We are in front of the impressive former stronghold of the Salimbeni family, wealthy Ghibelline merchants and bankers. In the 15th century, their fortress home was confiscated by the Commune of Siena which placed the toll post and the “Monte Pio” later incorporated into Monte dei … Continue reading
Written: October 2010 Occurred: July 2009 Florence gets more attention, but my Italian and I prefer Siena to Florence by a huge margin. The tourist hordes can keep Florence. According to legend Siena was founded by Senius, son of Remus; the symbol of the wolf feeding the twins Romulus and Remus is as ubiquitous in … Continue reading
“Violence alone, violence committed by the people, violence organized and educated by its leaders, makes it possible for the masses to understand social truths and gives the key to them. Without that struggle, without that knowledge of the practice of action, there’s nothing but a fancy dress-parade and the blare of trumpets. There’s nothing save … Continue reading
Eleonora and I passed a pub today named The Famous Cock. England is full of funny names like that. A quick review of a map revealed the following gems: Crotch Crescent, Oxford Titty Ho, Northamptonshire Wetwang, East Yorkshire Slutshole Lane, Norfolk Thong, Kent Pratts Bottom Some delightful street names can also be discovered such as … Continue reading
The below is a bloody napkin. The blood is mine. And below, dear readers, you see an innocent looking popsicle… Yes, it looks harmless indeed – tempting and delicious even, particularly on a hot day. But, I assure you that danger is very present in this scene. The “myth” I had long ago dismissed about … Continue reading
The following is excerpted from an email I just received from a friend of mine. I thought it was worth sharing with my dear readers… The reason we exist is to reproduce. In other words everything that I do in life, no matter how unrelated to the act of getting laid, is a cost against … Continue reading
Jérôme Kerviel is back in the news again… This time because he has been sentenced to five years of prison (with two years suspended), full restitution of the $7.2b which was lost, and a permanent ban from working in financial services. France has always had a soft spot for the lawbreaker, from Jean Valjean in … Continue reading
The Velvet Rocket 