Those Were the Days.

When men were men, and they wore metal hats and gloves and shoes. And they rode horses. And they composed sonnets.

(Everything I know about medieval history I learned from Disney movies and Monty Python.)

Why are the shoes so pointy? Why, the better to kick your head-in with, my pretty.

Face It. IV.

Pig tails? Bunched up ends of a head covering? Either way, she doesn't seem very happy about it.

Face It. III

Mythologically inspired water fountains in one of the many royal palaces that are now historical sites. These are part of a huge garden complex at a former royal hunting retreat.

Face It. II

Hovering above the choir section in Segovia.

Face It. I

A few details from the choir pews in the grand cathedral of Segovia. I'm sure some incredibly skilled artisan spent months of his life carving these, but that doesn't in any way reduce their creepiness.

Lights, Camera.

Yes, there are good photographers and bad photographers. I like to think that I fall into the category of people who can at least point the camera in the right direction and then I let all of the super-amazing auto features do all the rest of the work.

But I will say this (and my friends who actually make incredible pictures for a living can disagree with me), having something beautiful to point the camera at and the right light at the right time of day goes a really long way to making a photo look good.

Below, two shots from the Mosque of Cordoba and the Cathedral of Segovia respectively.

Taking Flight

In Spain, the high speed train is called the AVE, which is an acronym for Alta Velocidad Espana. Cleverly, the word ave also means bird; as in the train operates at such a high speed it is like one is flying down the tracks.

Below, a picture of two aves in their nest at the station getting ready to take flight.

Kyiv V

Nothing to do with Ukraine at all. I just think that a deflated bounce house is one of the saddest things.

Kyiv IV

Orwell wrote persuasively about double-speak and how it was used by fascist and quasi-fascist governments. In modern Kyiv, they believe strongly in truth in advertising.

Kyiv III

Just another evening of break dancing to Russian hip hop in the streets of downtown Kyiv. Nothing to see here.

Kyiv II

In former Soviet Ukraine, truck coffee you!

Kyiv I

By luck and circumstance, I found myself in Ukraine's capital, Kyiv for about 48 hours. Most of that time was spent in meetings and office buildings, but I did manage to run about for a bit and see a few beautiful churches.

If feels good to know that someone (with a large cross) is keeping watch over the river.