Blog Archive
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Savin Rock and Its Flying Horses
At its peak in 1919, Savin Rock welcomed 1.2 million visitors a year, rivaling even the famous Coney Island.
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How Wrong I Was
When we arrived in Naples my first impressions were of physical deterioration, vandalism, and filth. When thrown suddenly into the chaos and traffic just outside the airport the contrast with Montreal felt like too much! A visceral body blow. Looking back now I can see how wrong I was. Yes, Naples is chaotic, smelly and,…
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Catania Market
The Catania food markets continue a tradition dating back at least as far as Roman times, but also picking up on all the cultures that have traveled through Sicily since.
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My Favorite Pizzerias: Ai Marmi, Rome
Ai Marmi is my dream pizzeria. Unself-conscious, delicious food, with an easy, social atmosphere. It should know what it’s doing, it’s been in business in the same place for over 90 years, serving thin crust Roman-style pizzas. It’s easily one of my favorite restaurants on earth.
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Eastern Sicily
The eastern side of Sicily seems pretty laid back compared to Naples. People are friendly but not as outgoing; the culture seems a bit more drawn in. Driving is easy, not the blood sport it is in Naples (or Palermo).
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Naples, Continued
Naples is a city of people who know how to live. The city is noisey and at its best smells of tobacco and car exhaust, but no one can argue with its passion and sublime beauty.
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Naples, First Impressions
Naples’ fall from grace as once the largest and most prestigious city in Italy contributes to the irony of its present state. Centuries of economic struggles in southern Italy have forced Neapolitans to master the art of survival through an informal economy of street vendors, artisans, and small family businesses.
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Manon 2007-2025
She probably wasn’t the prettiest cat in the world, but we certainly thought she was. In her early life she was a studio cat, and then during the pandemic she moved to our apartment where her job was to take care of us 24/7. We were supposed to do the rest…
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Damascus Unveiled: Why These Photographs Will Change How You See Syria – and Ourselves
This is Syria in 2000 – Syria in the last moments of an era and to me it holds lessons that most of us in the West are only beginning to think about.
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The Sacred Mountains: Aramaic Villages and Ancient Pilgrimages
The third in a series introducing my new photo book “Return to Damascus: A Personal Journey.” This post exploring Syria’s Christian heritage and linguistic treasures in the Qalamoun Mountains. From Damascus, the Qalamoun Mountains rise like ancient guardians along the Lebanese border, harboring some of the most unusual Christian cultural and religious treasures in the…
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Beyond the Headlines: Discovering the Real Syria Through My Father’s Eyes
This is the second in a series introducing my new photo book “Return to Damascus: A Personal Journal.” This post is about my family’s connection to Damascus and my own personal journey. “This was all different,” my father murmurs as we walk through Bab Tuma (Saint Thomas’s Gate) which gives its name to the old…