Japanese sports drink Pocari Sweat on sale at a mini-market in Dubai, UAE. In addition to this unfortunately named beverage, Japanese consumers can also buy Calpis (which sounds like “Cow Piss” when pronounced by the Japanese) and Moocos (pronounced “Mucus”). Perhaps not as bad as the delicious Japanese chocolate treat Crunky Ball Nude.
Replica of the Statue of Liberty in Nice, France on the promenade behind the Nice Opera House. Erected in 2014, this miniature work commemorates the renovation of the Quai des Etats Unis. The quay, itself, is named after the United States (Etats Unis in French). The quay honors the role America played in helping France […]
Massive beaux-arts clock hanging inside the Musee d’Orsay in Paris, France. The clock dates to around 1898 and originally overlooked the passenger platforms when the building was used as a train station. When the space was converted into one of Paris’ best art museums in the mid-1980s, the clock was incorporated into the new layout. […]
Greatest hotel television remote ever. Seven buttons. No fuss. It doesn’t balance your checkbook, turn on your washing machine, or tell you where to go to get sushi at 3 a.m. It simply turns on and off your television and let’s you choose the channel and volume you want.
The Blue Lagoon on Comino Island, Malta. This photo is unretouched. The waters really are as vibrant and spectacular as they appear here. What’s not visible in the photo are the hundreds of tourists that decent on the lagoon each day. On the day this photo was taken, masses of stinging jellyfish kept everyone out […]
Looking up at the hole in the Pantheon ceiling, Rome. Dating from around 126 BC, this former temple has been used as a Catholic church since the 7th century. One interesting bit of trivia: the height from the floor to the oculus (the hole) is the same as the diameter of the interior of the […]
Stunning views along a desolate highway in northwestern Iceland. Although the country stretches as far as195 miles north to south and 300 miles east to west, it has a population of only 360,000 people. As a result, there are vast stretches of uninhabited, treeless, barren land between towns. Great for taking panoramic pictures, not so […]
Fort St. Angelo on Malta’s Grand Harbour, as viewed from the town of Senglea. This fort takes up the northernmost tip of the town of Vittoriosa, also known as Birgu. Located next to one another, Vittoriosa, Senglea, and Cospicua make up the “Three Cities,” a largely residential area across the harbour from Valletta. Because access […]
View of the south side of the Isle of Capri from a beachside cafe at the Marina Piccola (the Little Marina). Although less than 1 1/2 miles from the Marina Grande, where most tourists land on the island, the Marina Piccola is significantly quieter and less developed. Much of that has to do with the […]
Before the huge eruption of Mt Vesuvius in 79 AD, the two peaks in this image formed part of a much larger cone shaped volcano. Falling ash and pyroclastic flows eventually buried Pompeii to a depth of as much as 17 feet in some areas. Nearly 2,000 residents of this town, alone, died during the […]
View of Dubrovnik’s historic Old Town from the 16th century wall that completely encircles it. A UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979, the town suffered significant damage during the 1991-1992 Yugoslav War. Nowadays, though, there are few physical reminders of the war years. And the town has been reborn as a major Mediterranean tourist destination. […]
Country lane, northwestern Malta. Much of the island of Malta and it’s sister islands to the north, Gozo and Comino, look like this. Rolling hills, crumbling seaside cliffs, and hardy trees and scrub brush. Malta is an island of huge contrasts, too. The western side looks much like it did seven centuries ago when people […]
Storm swell washing over the seawall into Sliema Pitch pool, Malta. The pool faces north and takes the brunt of many of the storms that hit Malta during the winter months. Although rainfall is usually minimal, the wind can blow for days at gale-force strength, kicking up 15-20 foot waves in this part of the […]
Gozo Gossiping sculpture by Gozo native artist Joe Xuereb. Carved from large limestone blocks and standing nearly 6 feet tall, this playful statue is described by Xuereb as representing: . . . figures chattering and whispering, a local characteristic that takes place especially when we meet outdoors. It currently stands near the center of Villa […]
A seaside cafe, warm blue waters, and a cloudless sky. One of the many secluded inlets and coves on the western side of the island of Malta. Low hills and a vast network of walking paths make it easy to get from one cove to the next. In fact, if you had the time, you […]
Picturesque Amalfi. This tiny town 1 1/2 hours south of Naples is the namesake for Italy’s most spectacular coastline. Stretching from Sorrento in the north to Salerno in the south, it’s wild, steep, and gorgeous. And one heck of an unnerving bus ride to get to. Think hairpin turns, 400 foot vertical drops, narrow roads, […]
Mark Abbot Memorial Lighthouse, Lighthouse Point, Santa Cruz. This brick lighthouse constructed in 1967 is located on the bluff above Steamer Lane, Santa Cruz’ most famous surf break. Dedicated to the memory of Mark Abbot, a local surfer who drowned while surfing nearby, it has been home to the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum for the […]
Għajn Tuffieħa cove on the northwest coast of the island of Malta. Despite what’s shown in the photo, this small beach is mostly sandy and far less touristy than Golden Bay Beach, which is the next cove north. There’s a small cafe/restaurant right at the edge of the water called Singita. Hours vary by season […]
Statue of St. George slaying the dragon on Triq San Ġorġ (St. George Street), Victoria, Gozo. The idea of decorating street corners with religious statues dates back to the founding of Valletta in the 16th century. Although many streets in Valletta feature these images, this example stands out from the rest. Unlike it’s small, monochromatic […]
Traditional fishing boat moored at the Marsalforn harbor on the island of Gozo, Malta. Although Marsalforn has a population of fewer than 1,000 permanent residents, that changes dramatically in summer. From June to September, the town transforms into the most popular tourist resort on the island. Foreign tourists and Maltese locals flock to this northern […]
Created by architect Richard England, White Shadows is an intriguing sculpture installed on the Sliema (Malta) promenade in 2002. This 9-foot tall slab of stone features life-sized cut-outs of human figures, representing families strolling on the promenade. One critic referred to it as “a clever play with light and shadows”. It is only at night, […]
Giotto’s Bell Tower as seen from the roof of the Duomo in Florence, Italy. An iconic local landmark, the tower dates to 1359 and rises 278 feet (84.7 meters) above the Piazza del Duomo. And it’s more than just a frequent scenic backdrop for selfies and group shots. It features a panoramic roof terrace located […]
According to a study conducted by Booking.com, 72% of American women have embarked on solo travel trips. And they usually take three trips or more in a given year. When traveling alone, women need to take unique precautions to keep themselves and their personal information safe. The following link takes you to a post written by […]
Surfer statue on the cliff above Indicators surf break, Santa Cruz, California. Prominent classical sculptor Thomas Marsh created this 18-foot tall monument in 1992, dedicating it “to all surfers, past, present and future.” Since that time, it has become a cherished part of the local surf culture. And the setting is significant, too. The first recorded […]
Baroque facade of the Cathedral Museum located in Archbishop’s Square, Mdina, Malta. This former seminary became a museum in 1897, but didn’t open its doors to the public until 1969. The museum collection is vast, especially given the size of the town. In the collection are rare coins, intricately designed silver religious artifacts and statues. […]