In brief: For centuries, pilgrims have journeyed to Compostela, the sacred place of St. James. In our visit, we learned of their passion and the artistry that honors it. During the last few years, it…
In brief: Old friends, an old home, and an olde towne warmly welcomed us back to England. For our first visit to England in over a decade, where better to head than towns whose names…
In brief: We join tens of thousands of fans to enjoy the artistry of Sting We don’t usually build a trip around a concert. But we had the chance to hear a legend, Sting, performing…
In brief: We tried four touristy activities in Turkmenistan as a kind of cultural filler. Some were enjoyable, but we found mundane things just as revealing. Outside of the white monuments of the white city…
In brief: At three locales in Turkmenistan - Nisa, Konye-Urgench, Merv - past empires can be imagined once again from the limited remains not crushed into dust. Traveling in the five Stans countries, we often…
In brief: The ostentatious capital of Turkmenistan is an eerie place, most of which is colored white and devoid of people. Though Turkmenistan is largely desert, it shares the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea…
In brief: The beauty of Khiva comes from generations of leaders, like the last Khan, who built monuments for Allah - and for themselves. When he wrote poetry, a lot of love poetry, he called…
In brief: The legacy of stories, sovereigns, styles, and sects helped to distinguish Bukhara from the other famous Silk Road cities in Uzbekistan. Satiated by the richness of old Samarkand (see article), we wondered how…
In brief: After destruction by the Mongols, it took strong leaders like Timur and his heirs to build a city of stunning architecture, great learning, and durability. A dazzling showcase. The essence of the Silk…
In brief: We end our Tajik stay at the remnants of its early cultures. For them, fire was a link to the heavens. To us, it still seemed to warm the hearts of the people.…