Friday, March 7, 2014

Seongnam, South Korea

Korea or New England?  Their climates are so similar:  temperatures that bring out autumn colors, topography that shows them off, and fog that rolls in and temporarily obscures their brilliance. Why so similar? Look at their locations with respect to latitude, the coast, and offshore currents. [2012]

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Cinnamon Bay, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

Cinnamon Bay offers a captivating natural landscape, and there's just enough activity to make it an interesting human landscape as well. In fact, humanity and nature mesh quite nicely. Even the colors of the windsurf boards and sea kayaks are coordinated with their natural surroundings. [2014]

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Delhi, India

Pepsi and peacock feathers: for sale on Chandni Chowk. Both serve the same function: They promise to alleviate Delhi's subtropical heat. [2011]

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

These revelers are on their way to the French Quarter to kick off the beginning of Mardi Gras with a parade. Do you recognize the Mardi Gras colors? They're of Russian origin, you know. Celebrate today because tomorrow begins a period of pre-Resurrection solemnity. It's called Lent. [2009]

Monday, March 3, 2014

Tallahassee,Florida, USA

Florida became a state on this date in 1845, and the territorial capital of Tallahassee became the state capital. Why? It was between the two largest cities: St. Augustine and Pensacola. The new capitol, the tower, was built in the 1970s, but you're not supposed to take a picture of it from this perspective. Do you see why? [1995]

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Chicago, Illinois, USA

According to meteorologists, spring began yesterday. In Chicago, however, winter continues to reign supreme. So, does spring begin on March 1 or March 21? [2006]

Saturday, March 1, 2014

Koper, Slovenia

It's a grassy lawn, not a sandy beach. It's a working waterway, not an open ocean. It's a bobbing boy, not a bobbing buoy. Such is reality in geographically disadvantaged states like Slovenia. Not sure what that means? Look at a map. [2008]