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 […]
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. […]
Nano Nagle pedestrian bridge spanning the River Lee in Cork, Ireland. Born in County Cork, Honora “Nano” Nagle was an 18th century pioneer of women’s Catholic education in Ireland. In 1775, she founded the Society of Charitable Instruction of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Unlike most female congregations of the time, the members were not […]
Last days of The Sextant bar in Cork, Ireland. This iconic neighborhood bar will close in mid-February after 40 years. The building will soon after be torn down to make way for another glass and steel high-rise building.
Duck-banana statues on the corner of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard and Dubai Fountain Street in Dubai. And they’re not the only amusing artworks in the neighborhood. In fact, the public thoroughfares and walkways around the Dubai Mall teem with public art. A casual stroll around the Dubai Fountain allows you to view giant dandelions, […]
The Nice Carnival celebration is one of the largest carnival events in the world. Each year, over a million visitors descend on Nice during the festival’s 15-day run. The theme of Carnival changes each year. In 2017 it was Energy, in 2018 it was Space, and in 2019 it will be Cinema. Despite the different […]
The Villefranche-sur-mer Naval Flower Battle features up to 20 local fishing boats decked out in elaborate flower arrangements. The day begins with a short parade on land. And by short, we mean about 250 yards from start to finish. It’s so short, in fact, that by the time the last group begins walking, the first […]
Parish church of Our Lady of Pompeii, Marsaxlokk, southern Malta. Like most churches on the island of Malta, this local parish church has twin spires, a dome, an arched entrance, and thick stone walls. Despite its solid, imposing exterior, it’s surprisingly light and airy inside. Even more impressive than its size is the fact that […]
Plage du Ricanto on the southwestern side of the Isle of Corsica. Tourists flock to this narrow sandy beach not far from downtown Ajaccio during the summer season. And yet when I visited the first week of September, I had the warm sand and calm, shallow waters almost all to myself. The only minor downside […]
Replica of the HMS Endeavour that Captain Cook sailed into Botany Bay (Sydney) in 1770. Cook’s “discovery” of Australia was a huge surprise to the local aboriginal tribes. Until he arrived, they hadn’t realized Australia was missing. This replica is part of the Australian National Maritime Museum in Darling Harbour, Sydney. Entrance to the main […]
Memorial to Georges Guynemer, French top flying ace in World War I. Although his flying career spanned only two years, he managed to shoot down 54 enemy aircraft in that time. By the time of his death in 1917 at the age of 22, he had become a national hero. In addition to his remarkable […]
Ski Dubai is quite an anomaly in a country where the average temperature in August is 107F (42C). Even in mid-winter, nightly temperatures hover around 59F (15C), so it’s not a place you would expect to find snow. Located inside the Mall of the Emirates, this mini ski field maintains a constant temperature of around 32F […]
Laser light show on the Burj Khalifa tower in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Aside from minor cropping, this photo is unedited. The light beams, colors, and dotted lights around the building appear exactly as they did during the show. Originally staged as part of Dubai’s New Year’s Eve 2018 celebration, the light show drew such […]
Ferris wheel and winter sunset in Place Massena, Nice, France. Tickets cost about US $8 and you sit in enclosed cars rather than in swinging seats. The result is an enjoyable ride, even if you aren’t a fan of heights. In all, it’s a great way to spend a leisurely half-hour or so. Nice erects […]
Dubai al Arab Jumeirah Hotel, which bills itself as the most luxurious hotel in the world. And it’s not just the hotel operators saying that. Travel agents and industry analysts consider it one of the only true 6-star hotels in the world. Completed in 1999 for approximately $1 billion, it sits on a man-made island […]
Skyline view of Valletta, Malta, the smallest capital city in Europe. With a population of just 6,400 people, this 16th century walled town covers a mere .3 square miles (.8 square kilometers). Despite this, Valletta is a bustling town during the day. Thousands of cruise ship passengers wander its streets nearly every day taking in […]
Rue Obscure, Villefranche-sur-mer. This 425-foot (130 meter) passageway runs parallel to the shore in Villefranche, about 5 miles from downtown Nice, France. Dating from 1260, it was originally an open-air section of the original defensive ramparts of the town. Over the centuries, the town grew up around and above it, transforming it into a covered […]