Category: photos

Old City – Sana’a, Yemen

On By Rick McIn Islam, photos, travelLeave a comment

I visited the Old City three times while in Sana’a.

Haunting, evocative architecture.

The old fortified city has been inhabited for more than 2,500 years and contains many intact architectural gems. It was declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations in 1986. Efforts are underway to preserve some of the oldest buildings some of which, such as the Samsarh and the Great Mosque of Sana’a, are more than 1,400 years old.

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Surrounded by ancient clay walls which stand 9–14 metres (30–46 ft) high, the old city contains more than 100 mosques, 12 hammams (baths) and 6,500 houses. Many of the houses resemble ancient skyscrapers, reaching several stories high and topped with flat roofs. They are decorated with elaborate friezes and intricately carved frames and stained-glass windows.

It’s an active neighborhood. No museum.

… more photos

Mormon Christmas – Salt Lake City

On By Rick McIn photos, travelLeave a comment

Before heading to the Middle East, I got in the season’s spirit during a brief stopover in Salt Lake City.

The Mormon Temple puts on a terrific light show.

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Hospitality is excellent, too. They offer a free shuttle from the airport for travelers who have a few hours to spare in SLC.

Some of the photos are from the impressive downtown Gateway Mall.

See them on flickr.

_____

Ben Stein:

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don’t feel threatened. I don’t feel discriminated against. That’s what they are: Christmas trees. It doesn’t bother me a bit when people say, “Merry Christmas” to me. I don’t think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn’t bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a creche, it’s just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

Shiro on Vancouver Island

On By Rick McIn friends, gymnastics, photos, travelLeave a comment

My old coach, Shiro Tanaka, brought Japanese friends to Canada for a gymnastics study tour. They are visiting clubs in Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary — and holidaying in-between.

Hardy and Cynthia hosted them at their place on Sproat Lake, Vancouver Island. I was chauffeur.

It’s paradise.

1st night in Canada

Next morning Hardy skippered the group to local highlights.

Great start to the Canadian tour. 🙂

See more and higher resolution annotated photos on flickr.

Buzludzha Monument, Bulgaria

On By Rick McIn government, photosLeave a comment

Have you heard about the huge, abandoned Buzludzha Monument in Bulgaria?

Symbolic of the grandiose stupidity of Soviet Communism.

Check some of Timothy Allen’s photos.

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… In September 2011, the Bulgarian cabinet transferred ownership of the monument to the Bulgarian Socialist party.

Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Boyko Borisov declared, “We shall let them take care of it because here it also holds true that a party which does not respect its past and its symbols has no future”.

They have still not come to an agreement about what to do with it.

To date, every year at the end of July, 30-40,000 Bulgarian Socialists still congregate at Buzludzha to mark the founding of the Bulgarian Social-Democratic Party.

read more – Human Planet

Iowa for Easter

On By Rick McIn photos, travelLeave a comment

I find myself in Des Moines (the Monks) Iowa on Easter Sunday. Very green, quiet and clean.

Here’s the Iowa State Capitol.

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… hmm.

I often don’t like slideshows on the internet. But this slideshow interface looks OK. Leave a comment if you’ve an opinion.

related – Des Moines is NOT Boring

Every World Press Photo Winner From 1955-2011

On By Rick McIn bad news, photosLeave a comment

… most are horrific, be warned.

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Bibi Aisha, an 18-year-old woman from Oruzgan province in Afghanistan, fled back to her family home from her husband’s house, complaining of violent treatment. The Taliban arrived one night, demanding Bibi be handed over to face justice. After a Taliban commander pronounced his verdict, Bibi’s brother-in-law held her down and her husband sliced off her ears and then cut off her nose. Bibi was abandoned, but later rescued by aid workers and the U.S. military. (Jodi Bieber)

see the rest on BuzzFeed

(via Kottke)