San Francisco is one of those iconic cities from my childhood, serving as a shining beacon of American progress and innovation. With such landmarks as the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman's Wharf, and Alcatraz, the city stood along its sisters: New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, etc, as symbols of the great American dream.  In the past decade though, the city has been going through a rut. San Francisco has struggled with high office vacancy rates, extremely expensive property values (some would argue the world's most expensive), and a general feeling of decay, with visible homelessness, open-air drug use, and theft being commonplace. Time will tell what will happen to the city, but these photographs are of San Francisco during one of its more glorious and glamorous eras. San Francisco was founded in 1776 by Spanish colonists. The 1849 California gold rush exploded San Francisco’s population from a tiny settlement into one of America’s fastest-growing cities almost overnight! A note ...

Touchdown Australia! The country so vast, it's a continent of its own. Here are some shots of our trip there years ago. Sydney was founded in 1788 as a British penal colony, meaning many of its earliest European residents were convicts! It is Australia’s oldest and largest city , though not the capital (that’s actually Canberra). A note from the writer: this is a pre-pandemic tale. S ydney sits around one of the world’s largest natural harb ors:  Port Jackson; and has one of the world's most expensive real estate markets. When you have views like this, you understand why.

Madrid, one of the great capitals of Europe, sits near the very geographic center of the Iberian peninsula; a fact which helped it grow into a political hub despite lacking a major river or coastline. Originally a muslim fortress town called Mayrit founded in the 9th century by the muslim Umayyads, Madrid wasn't always Spain's capital. In fact, it only became the capital in 1561 when Philip II moved his royal court here from nearby Toledo. As a citizen of a country which was a former colony of Spain, it was my pleasure and honor to explore a city which had such a direct influence in our own history and culture. The Gran Via is Madrid's most famous shopping and entertainment street; often called the "Spanish Broadway" due to its theaters and musicals. A note from the writer: this is a pre-pandemic tale.

When people think of Palestine, they normally assume that this territory is primarily ruled and inhabited by our brothers and sisters who practice the Muslim faith. The truth however is that majority of Christians who live in the Holy Land do so from Palestinian territory.  In fact, Bethlehem, the place of birth of the Lord and Savior of Christians everywhere, falls entirely in the West Bank which is under the administrative control of the Palestinian Authority. Making Bethlehem a major site for Christian pilgrimage. A note from the writer: this is a pre-pandemic tale.

There is undoubtedly no other city as iconic as New York City, whose five boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island are rich in history, character, and culture; forever immortalized in numerous movies, TV shows, stories, and songs. Originally a Dutch colony settled in 1624 named New Amsterdam, New York City has grown to become what is is now: the most populous and visited city in the US, home to the United Nations and the Statue of Liberty, the fashion, media, and financial capital of the world, the very symbol itself of the great United States of America. And it is said that in New York City, even buildings, squares, and streets are world famous. Here are some of NYC's most famous tourist locations: Part Two For Part One, you may go here .  Top of the Rock Observation Deck at 30 Rockefeller Plaza The Top of the Rock Observation Deck offers unobstructed views of the entirety of New York City including the Empire State Building; making this the best plac...

Here are some more fascinating sights from random areas around Singapore.  Nowadays Singapore is a featured destination for Formula 1 enthusiasts thanks to the Singapore Grand Prix, reputed to be the toughest of all the races due to the city's infamous humidity. A note from the writer: this is a pre-pandemic tale with additional post-pandemic photos.

Sitting right in the heart of the old city, close to the Alcaicería (old silk market) and right next to the Royal Chapel, (where the Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella are buried) stands the Catedral de Granada. When the Catholic Monarchs finally completed their grand campaign known as the Reconquista, they specifically chose Granada to be their final resting place .   Together, the cathedral and chapel serve as a national monument of Spanish identity, tying monarchy, religion, and architecture into one grand narrative. The cathedral has long been seen as a counterpoint to the Alhambra, representing the grandeur of Christian legacy just as the Alhambra  represents the Islamic Golden Age. A note from the writer: this is a pre-pandemic tale.