In Cape Town’s center city we serendipitously came upon the Minstrel’s Parade. It commemorates the freeing of the slaves in the early 1800’s. It’s a bit like Mardi Gras, but more loosely organized. Teams, each from a different neighborhood, dressed in bright fanciful costumes and makeup. Glitter was a favored accessory. They sang, danced and played instruments as they marched … Read More

Ghost Ranch is about an hour’s drive from Albuquerque. Formerly the home of Georgia O’Keeffe it is now a retreat center. As I drove closer, I recognized some of the surrounding landscape from her paintings. Landscapes in the US southwest are notable for the way sunlight and open sky play upon the rugged terrain. During the day I spent there, … Read More

Newfoundland is a wild, largely untouristy place. On a road trip across the province, I stayed in B&Bs in remote areas and enjoyed unobstructed views of the land, sea and sky. It was an amazing place to stargaze; there is almost no ambient light. The biggest surprise, however, was close to St. Johns, the largest city. I drove, then took … Read More

When I traveled to Peru fifteen years ago, I visited a weaver’s co-op in the village of Chinchero. Located high in the Andes, not far from Cusco, the setting is breathtaking. It’s also literally breathtaking because of the altitude. Fortified by coca leaf tea to relieve altitude sickness, I spent an afternoon with hospitable women. My rudimentary Spanish helped to … Read More

In 2001 I took a nine-month road trip around the US. My intent was to travel to difficult-to-visit places. Most of the vast state of Wyoming was new to me. Yellowstone lived up to its reputation of natural beauty. The drive through the Shoshone Forest was breathtaking but freezing cold and snow covered – in June. While the Cody rodeo … Read More

This scene looks as if it could be an antique postcard from one hundred years ago. It’s old, but not that old. I shot it in Vienna nearly thirty years ago. I never felt quite comfortable in Vienna, despite its elegance. It felt formal, which isn’t my style at all. I admired the over-the-top gilded architecture, the epic statues around … Read More

One highlight of my travels to India was the camel festival in the desert town of Naguar. I had no idea what to expect other than a lot of camels. That was certainly true—more camels in a glance than I’d seen in my lifetime. The unexpected was the artistry in decorating them. Elaborate headdresses, harnesses and saddles were a minimum. … Read More

Entering into a massive building, probably two city blocks long, we saw household goods, ordinary clothes and a few paltry silk shops. Could this really be the famed silk market? After stumbling about we went upstairs. We entered into a magical visual feast. Displays of luscious, luminous fabrics in jewel tones went on for as far as we could see. … Read More

The La Jolla coast is known for its population of wild seals and sea lions. On any sunny day it is easy to see large numbers of them lounging or swimming along the shoreline. It took me a while to see the differences between the two marine mammals. Sea lions are brown and have external ears. Seals are darker gray, … Read More

The deep blue cloudless sky made yesterday the perfect conditions for viewing NYC from above. A discount coupon and controlled occupancy made going there irresistible. I’d been planning to visit ever since the observatory opened in 2015. It was worth the wait. With 360° views, every few steps brought another breathtaking panorama. I loved the mix of long-established landmarks, like … Read More