Category Archives: Pic of the Week

a.k.a. Photo of the Week

“Pic of the Week”, April 7, 2023: Porta Nuova, Palermo

This tall and impressive gate was built in the 15th century at a time when Palermo was surrounded by a city wall. The gate was called “Porta dell’Aquila” (Gate of the Eagle) but the people of Palermo called it “Porta Nuova” (“New Gate“), and that name has stuck. The gate was reconstructed in the 16th century to honor Holy Roman Emperor Charles V’s conquest of Tunis from the Ottoman Empire. The gate was destroyed by a fire caused when lightening exploded a gunpowder store in the upper levels in 1667; an exact copy was reconstructed within 2 years.
Porta Nuova is close to two of Palermo’s most popular attractions, Palazzo dei Normanni and Capella Palatina, but …

Karl on Apr 6, 2023 | Comments Off

“Pic of the Week”, March 31, 2023: Extra! Extra! Read all about it!!

Situated in downtown Helena’s Walking Mall is a bronze statue of a newsboy, holding up a paper. He’s shouting out a headline, his sleeves rolled up, with a typical newsboy’s cap on his head. Our younger audience probably wouldn’t know that there was a time when people relied on newspapers to get their news — not their phone or laptop.
The statue is entitled “Extra! Extra!”. It was sculpted by Becky Eiker in 1998 and was dedicated in July 1999. It’s “A tribute to the faithful newsboys who sold their papers on these street corners, bringing the latest news to the people of Helena”.
“Extra Extra” is now one of Helena’s landmarks.
(Click on thumbnails to enlarge photos)

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Karl on Mar 30, 2023 | Comments Off

“Pic of the Week”, March 24, 2023: Whiteshell River, Manitoba

06 Whiteshell River and Lone Island Lake (2)

Located in eastern Manitoba, in Whiteshell Provincial Park, this river was a special place to me as a boy and teenager. It was here that our father often took us fishing in the late spring and early summer, especially to Lone Island Lake. When I recently revisited the Whiteshell River, I’d forgotten how pretty the place is.
The river connects a series of lakes which become difficult to navigate in the late summer because wild rice grows in abundance. It’s been decades since I saw natives harvest the rice, bending the stems over their canoes and then using a club to knock the rice grains loose onto a tarp.
(Click on thumbnails to enlarge photos)

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Karl on Mar 23, 2023 | Comments Off

“Pic of the Week”, March 17, 2023: Room with a view, Trincomalee

The Amaranthe Bay Resort is located just north of Trincomalee on the Pillaikulam Aru river. It’s a lovely resort in a quiet neighborhood and the view over the river is nice, especially at sunrise. We spent a few days here.
As I was dealing with jet-lag at the time so I was up before dawn each morning. I’d spend a good deal of that time looking out over the river. There were lots of birds that awoke with me and birdsong at dawn is always something I enjoy.
I think there were some fishing nets strung across the other side of the river, as this man tended to something out there every morning. But it was far enough away that I wasn’t …

Karl on Mar 16, 2023 | Comments Off

“Pic of the Week”, March 10, 2023: A Courtyard in Cordoba

We sought shelter in this courtyard when the clouds opened and a heavy downpour began while we were exploring the streets of Cordoba.
It was a pretty courtyard, bricks, stonework and white plaster walls with dozens of colorful flowers growing in small matching pots on the walls. There were a few shops around the courtyard, but these didn’t interest us. It was such a cool place to be that when the downpour stopped, it almost seemed a shame to leave.
(Click on thumbnails to enlarge)

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Karl on Mar 9, 2023 | Comments Off

“Pic of the Week”, March 3, 2023: A Puppet Show in Jaipur

Often a few unexpected moments are what make a trip memorable.
As we were heading for a visit to the Palace in Jaipur, we noted a puppet show had drawn a small crowd to it. We stopped for a few minutes and watched. Seemed the hero of the show was a snake-charmer who calmed a cobra that slithered on stage. You can follow the actions of snake and charmer in the few images in the slide show below (images are placed in sequence taken).

(Puppeteer in Jaipur)

When the crowd thinned, one of the puppet masters emerged. I like his turban.
(Click on thumbnnails to enlarge photos)

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Karl on Mar 2, 2023 | Comments Off

“Pic of the Week”, February 10, 2023: Flutist, Yak & Yeti Hotel, Kathmandu

Spare Nepal 04-2002 (1) Yak and Yeti Hotel

The Yak & Yeti Hotel was, and remains, one of the premier hotels in Kathmandu. It’s the hotel most people heading to the Khumbu and Mt. Everest stay at when their plane lands in Kathmandu.
Breakfast was outside ever morning and we were serenaded by this talented musican. The beautiful music added to the enjoyment of our meal and of our stay.

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Karl on Feb 9, 2023 | Comments Off

“Pic of the Week”, February 3, 2023: Old Fortified Wall, Seville

The walls of Seville surrounded the Old Town portion of the city. The first walls were constructed by the Romans almost two millenia ago. The walls were maintained and updated over the centuries and portions of them still remain, especially around the Alcázar and in the barrio de la Macarena.
This section of the old wall likely dates to the 12th century Moorish period of the city, although it was modified about 200 years ago. It contains one of the city’s few surviving gates.
(Click on thumbnails below to enlarge the photo)

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