Praying at the Western Wall, Jerusalem
On our first night in Jerusalem, Kris was ill, so I went out to explore the old city on my own. Jerusalem is an odd place, and probably the most…
Ruins of the Roman Camp Viewed from Masada, Israel
Many have heard the story of the siege of Masada, when Jews who escaped the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD retreated three years later to the stronghold on…
Watchtowers, Golden Bay, Malta
In the 16th Century, the Knights of Malta ringed the island of Malta with watchtowers just like this. Each was manned by four soldiers, and they looked out over the…
16 Places to Visit in Jerusalem
Sometimes it takes a while to get to know a new city. Such was the case with Jerusalem, but not for the reasons you might think. (No need to cry,…
Florence Italy Revisited: The Church Circuit
Note: This story was originally posted together with a summary of Florence's museums. But the post became unwieldy: that's how many significant churches and museums are recommended in Florence. Churches,…
Pilgrims, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem
Just inside the main entrance of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem is a large fractured stone, glimmering in the light of several overhead lanterns. When I first…
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…
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.