Paris, France

A full fortnight has passed since the tragic fire at Notre Dame Cathedral. Consumed by flames, the spire fell. Thanks to les sapeurs pompiers, the bell towers escaped the same fate. As the world watched in real time, a witness to world history disappeared. Our Lady learned the same lesson we all learn: "for dust thou art, and unto dust thou shall return." [2005]

Glasgow, Scotland, UK

Peddling produces powerful pangs of hunger. But, if you pack a lunch you can satisfy that hunger any time you want, rather than trying to find a restaurant, or arguing about what kind of food would hit the spot. [2017]

Glasgow, Scotland, UK

European cities are so much more likely than American cities to differentiate between work-week space and week-end space. Must motor vehicles have priority on city streets 24 hours a day and 7 days a week? The American answer is yes. The Scottish answer is no. [2017]

Glasgow, Scotland, UK

Glasgow hosted the 20th Commonwealth Games. Now, the same space that made memories for athletes continues to make memories for a wee lad and his dad. Don't they look happy? The games may have been in 2014, but they continue to cast a brilliance over their host city. [2017]

Dalhart, Texas, USA

How do you tell a story about violence against women? You use the county courthouse to symbolize the law and silhouettes to symbolize individual women who were killed by their "intimate partners." The story of each is told in the outline maps they wear as broaches. [2018]

Ashboro, North Carolina, USA

Here's a chuckwalla protecting a kettle not far from the chuck wagon. He calls himself a kettle guardian, and hopes that his kind will one day gain as much respect as the temple guardians of antiquity. [2018]

Birmingham, Alabama, USA

Caiman lizards are natives of South America. They love sunning themselves over water habitats where they can regularly dive and swim. As for their diet: mostly snails. As for their tails: similar to the caimans from which they take their name. [2018]

Panama City, Florida, USA

At only about a foot long, he might not be a monitor, but he does have a powerful tail and an eye-catching design that makes you want to examine every inch of his body. Take time to look at that tail, and those feet, and those eyes. Can't get enough of them, can you? The uromastyx, thank goodness, is a herbivore. [2018]

Lady's Island, South Carolina, USA

Lady's Island is centuplicated along the coast of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida: It's a distinctive region we know as the Sea Islands. Thanks to sprawling residential development, however, so much of the region no longer looks like this. Today is Earth Day! So, find your own Sam's Point somewhere close to home and pledge to preserve it. [2008]

Lebanon, Virginia, USA

One word defines Christianity: Love, the love of God for his creation. One word defines Virginia: Love, the love that appears in roadside signs all over the state. Make of these juxtaposed facts what you will, but please have a Happy Easter! [2019]

Groom, Texas, USA

It was the day after the crucifixion, and the body of Jesus had already been placed in a nearby tomb. The cross stood empty. A millennium and a half later, the empty cross became a symbol of Protestant Christianity. As for the wind turbines: obviously symbols of the Trinity. [2018]

Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

Despite its name, our commemoration of Good Friday marks the darkest day in Christian history, the day Jesus was crucified on a hill called Golgotha, the place of the skull (see it?). The event is depicted here as part of the "passion facade" of the basilica of the Holy Family in Barcelona. [2005]

Rhyolite, Nevada, USA

Leonardo never visited Death Valley, but his ideas did. In ghostly form, Christ's Last Supper appeared on the desert pavement in the 1980s. Miraculously, it has lasted for decades. Leonardo, the painter, and Szukalski, the sculptor, caught "the twelve" just as Jesus announced that "one of you will betray me." [2016]

Williamson, West Virginia, USA

Only a few structures around the world are built of coal. Thanks to Norfolk and Western Railway, Williamson has one of them: The Coal House. It was built in 1933 as a paean to the surrounding  "Billion Dollar Coal Field." As for the brave out front: That's another story! [2019]

Damascus, Virginia, USA

The Appalachian Trail cuts right through Damascus, and these four were hiking it from south to north (see the packs?). Yes, that number includes their canine guardian. For those who have developed a love affair with pedometers, a thru-hiker would log about 5 million steps. [2019]

Livonia, Michigan, USA

The darkest day of the year falls today: April 15. Isn't this how most people think of the tax collector, as the Grim Reaper's twin brother? And, this year, tax day falls right in the middle of the Easter Season. [2008]

Kralendijk, Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands

♬ From Olivet they followed
mid an exultant crowd,
the victory palm branch waving,
and chanting clear and loud.
The Lord of earth and heaven
rode on in lowly state,
nor scorned that little children
should on his bidding wait. ♬
So wrote Jenette Threlfall, British hymn writer.
Recognize the tune? Think: Palm Sunday!
[2017]

Les Escaldes, Andorra

"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
    for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
    for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
So sayeth, Jesus of Nazareth.
[2005]

Marbella, Andalucia, Spain

"The life of the creative man is lead, directed and controlled by boredom. Avoiding boredom is one of our most important purposes." So sayeth Susan Sontag. [2015]

Hillsboro, Kentucky, USA

Unlike so many historic wooden spans, the Goddard-White covered bridge is open to vehicular traffic, for which the Goddard United Methodist Church in the background is grateful. It is actually rare to be able to photograph a covered bridge and a church together. [2017]

Jay, New York, USA

Most covered bridges come to expect that they will be the center of attention. At most, they might have to share the scene with a mill. But, in the case of the Jay covered bridge (here, as it looked almost four decades ago), there is serious competition with the hard-rock geology of the Adirondaks. [1983]

Manheim, Pennsylvania, USA

Shearer's covered bridge is the pride of Manheim and has been since 1971 when it was moved from its rural setting into the borough park where it now stands. When it was moved it was already well over one hundred years old. Today, it is reserved for pedestrians and cyclists. [2019]

Nipton, California, USA

Can you see that license plate? They are from Wisconsin, making their way to Cabo San Lucas in Mexico. It's the perfect time of year to traverse the Mohave Desert: Temperatures are spring-like and the landscape is covered by wildflowers. Let's just hope they haven't planned to ride back in the middle of summer! [2019]

Ocracoke Island, North Carolina, USA

By proclamation of the locals (or, at least one of them), Ocracoke is the home of the brave. Who is their enemy? Who do they have to stand against? At this point in time, it seems to be Neptune, the god behind sea-level rise. Ocracoke has an elevation of only about 3 feet. [2019]

Richmond, Virginia, USA

Where are they now? Exactly six years ago today, they were on their way to class at VCU. Did they know they were also on their way to becoming millionaires twice over? Guess how much a college degree is worth: $2.1 million over the course of a working lifetime. [2013]

Lake Havasu City, Arizona, USA

"It's 5 o'Clock Somewhere!" And, it's Friday, to boot. The week-end is upon us, and here is some advice: Guard against any temptation to turn into a party animal like this guy. [2019]

New York, New York, USA

If it was good enough for Sema-Tawy-Tafnakht in the 7th century B.C., it should be good enough for Horace Greeley: being memorialized while seated, that is. What do these two men have in common? They were both scribes. [2018]

Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA

Look again, and this time read the sign! "We Don't Want - Your Arm or Leg - Just Your Tows." Words can be so much fun to play with. What do you call words that sound the same but have different spellings and meanings? Here's the answer. [2018]

Berlin, Maryland, USA

Look again, and this time read the sign! "We take the dents out of accidents": That could be the beginning of an entire routine at your local comedy club. Signs can be so jokey. In fact, the more jokey the more attention they command. [2010]

Quartzsite. Arizona, USA

Look again, and this time read the sign! Remember, it's April Fools' Day, so we are all out for a laugh. Fortunately, the people of Arizona and nearby California have something to laugh about every time they see this advertisement. No nitrous oxide needed. [2015]