Chartres, France

Good-bye, 2010. Au revoir, from the most magnificent of all Gothic Cathedrals. This is the central portal of Chartres' west facade. Its theme? The End of Time. The guardians of the jamb? Old Testament royalty. What an honor to be carried through an 800-year-old gateway to the great beyond. [2005]

London, England, UK

The ordinary of today becomes the memory of tomorrow. Don't go to London hoping to replicate this picture. This was one of the last deliveries of newsprint to The Daily Mail on Fleet Street, home of the British Press since the age of William Caxton and Richard Pynson. How could you possibly modernize a printing operation in a physical plant like this? [1984]

New Castle, Delaware, USA

Meet St. Peter, the most divine,
At the house of Immanuel.
Mortal remains you may leave behind
At a churchyard in the Del.
Aware he is of all you do
To keep from going to hell.
Cross the divide, go inside
And sanctify USAlf.
You'll know you're there when you do hear
The brand-New Castle bell.
[2008]

Rotarua, New Zealand

You didn't want to be here 240,000 years ago. That's when the volcano erupted, collapsed into itself, and gave birth to the Rotarua caldera, which is today occupied by a geothermal lake. That's steam, not ground fog. Anything surprising about the Maori village of Ohinemutu? Perhaps the English Tudor architecture. [2006]

Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia

Fishing Boat Harbor has become the heart of Fremantle's tourist precinct, especially during yachting season and when cruise boats call. In our mind's eye, this is what we want to see when we stroll the waterfront. The arts make it possible. [2006]

Faro, Portugal

Portugal sent Lusophonia to Brazil, and Brazil sent Bougainvillea to Portugal (albeit via the French, and not until the 18th century). Bougainvillea enjoys the sun and doesn't mind a little dryness. It seems perfectly suited to the Mediterranean climate of the Algarve and its climatic companion in North America, California. [2009]

Frederick, Maryland, USA

Healthy main streets in the hearts of homey downtowns are always a pleasure to find. Frederick has one of the best. And, it's even better at Christmas when public sculptures hail the season to be jolly. I guess this must be an earthbound reindeer since the sculpture was called "Earthbound Christmas." [2006]