Two Men Discussing the Quran, Jerusalem
The area around the Dome of the Rock and the Al Aqsa mosque was fairly light on tourists. They make it sort of difficult to get up there if you’re … Read more
Tomb of Jesus, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre houses the purported tomb of Jesus, and the spot of his resurrection. That part of the church is under the control of the Greek Patriarch of Jerusalem.
The Bayeux Tapestry, Normandy, France
The Bayeux Tapestry was the medieval equivalent of a newspaper, or at least a speech by a politician. It tells the story in pictures and words of the rationale and the history behind the Norman Conquest of England. In fact, William the Conquerer, the Norman duke who defeated the English King Harold at the Battle of Hastings and assumed the throne of England, had the thing done only a couple of years later so he could explain to everyone his side of what happened and how a French guy ended up as King of England.
Food and Shelter in Florence
Our Eurail Pass traveling was winding down when we hit Florence. Instead of pressing on, we stayed for two weeks, including Christmas. It was a good chance to refresh our memories of Florence, to discover new neighborhoods, and revisit some favorite works of art. Oh, so many recommendations we have for you!
Rooftop View, Old City, Jerusalem
This is the view of the Old City of Jerusalem from Herod’s Tower at the Tower of David Jerusalem History Museum. I’ve pretty much been all over the Old City … Read more
Dead Sea Scrolls, Israel Museum, Jerusalem
I first saw the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit when I was 13 years old, when they went on a very abbreviated tour of the United States in 1965.
Church of All Nations, Gethsemane, Jerusalem
One of the things that’s most struck me since we’ve been in Jerusalem is the way that Christians have thrown themselves down on various holy sites, like this one at … Read more
Not Visiting the Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem
The Dome of the Rock, built on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem is one of the holiest sites of the Muslim faith. Muslims believe this is where Muhammad ascended into … Read more
Our 2014 Travels in 50 Photos
2014 was our biggest year of traveling yet. We visited 19 countries, including a long driving trip in the western United States. We saw, in order, the United States, Belgium, … Read more
Drama in the Palazzo Vecchio, Florence, Italy
I’ll flirt with heresy and say, To Florence, the Palazzo Vecchio (“Old Palace”) is every bit as iconic as the Duomo. Or more so. It has the advantage of sitting … Read more
