Mexico City, DF, Mexico

Today, the Zócalo is the ceremonial heart of Mexico City and the nation. It is a huge open-space resource that is used for the celebrations of Mexica and national culture, political protests (in front of the national palace), and recreational nonsense that means nothing to anybody. [2008]

Amsterdam, Netherlands

From the Amstel River two things took their names: Amsterdam and Amstel beer. In fact, the beer was originally made from water drawn from the Amstel. [2015]

Ephesus, Turkey

The Ephesus amphitheater is built into the hillside (the way the ancient Greeks did it!) along the road from the port to the town. The apostle Paul visited and wrote letters to the early Christians here. Those letters have become the Biblical book of Ephesians. And, we know Paul walked past this amphitheater at least once in his life. [2007]

Lima, Ohio, USA

Don't worry! The Lima Fire Department has more modern engines than that. In fact, this one is an optical illusion. The cab of an antique engine has been grafted onto the firehouse as a visual reminder of the past. [2001]

New York, New York, USA

You may be in Long Island City, but you are served by FDNY, which is the largest fire department in the United States and out-sized only by Tokyo's. This engine house was built in 1932. [2012]

Charleston, South Carolina, USA

Government-run fire departments appeared on the scene around the time of the Civil War, but the first fire company goes back to 1736 in Philadelphia. When Charleston built this engine house in 1887, it was at a time when governments used architecture to brag about their abilities to provide public services like fire fighting. [2008]

Gardiner, Maine, USA

The New England village green: place-perfect, iconic, communal. It is a reminder of what we mean by a "pure public good." Only collectively can we have it. That is why we also call it a commons. [2019]

Santa Clara, Utah, USA

These are the dog days of summer. It's the hottest and most uncomfortable time of year. How did people survive before air conditioning? Maybe they found some water to cool them off. When the ancient Greeks marked the season, however, what they had in mind was the dog star's reappearance in the heavens just before sunrise. [2019]

Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA

The falls on the Big Sioux River provide Sioux Falls with the perfect excuse for a park: green in the summer and perfect for cycling, white in the winter and perfect for snowshoeing. The falls also provide the perfect excuse for a mill: Can you see the edge of the Queen Bee? [2007]

San Bruno, California, USA

Today's food trucks are descendants of the chuck wagons that accompanied wagon trains across the continent to California. But, the first taco truck did not appear until 1974, when it began to traverse the streets of East Los Angeles. The number has now expanded to between four and five thousand just in the U.S. [2010]

Odebolt, Iowa, USA

One of the shields on the side of this corn crib portrays Cracker Jack, the grand daddy of American junk food. In its heyday, almost all the popcorn (the main ingredient) came from Odebolt. In these corn cribs it was stored until it could be hauled off to Chicago. Odebolt was the Popcorn Center of the World. It is only half an hour away from Sac City. [2019]

Manor, Texas, USA

Said Neil Armstrong as he became the first to walk on the Moon: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Said a certain eight-year-old as she celebrated her ninth birthday on the 50th anniversary of the moon walk: "That's eight short years behind me, and only one more til tween-hood." [2009]

Kittery, Maine, USA

The ocean is the closest thing to an isotropic surface (featureless plain) we have on planet Earth. To make it less isotropic, Maine's lobstermen mark the positions of their lobster traps with color-coded buoys that float on the surface so the traps below can easily be found. On shore, however, they often help homeowners find their homes. [2019]

Sac City, Iowa, USA

There they are: two local lads mowing grass right across the street from (can you read it?) the world's largest popcorn ball. It was created in 2016 and weighs 9,370 pounds. The town was so proud they built a pavilion to show it off. [2019]

Gulf Breeze, Florida, USA

Today is the 100th anniversary of my mother's birth. Happy Birthday, mom! Two years younger than my dad, you were. Your issue numbered one: me. So, let me take advantage of the day to reflect on the past and remember that into each life some rain must fall. [2018]

Valetta, Malta

Gallarija Falza / شرفة زائفة / falso balcon: Do you recognize the languages? They would be the ones spoken in the countries bordering the central Mediterranean. In fact, the first language is a mélange of the second two (and more). What does she find her gallarija falza good for? Drying clothes. [2009]

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

Look at what is left of Cinnamon Bay Plantation, which was originally established by the Danes in 1717 with the labor of enslaved Africans. What was produced here? Sugar for the European market. Today, the ruins are part of the Virgin Islands National Park. [2014]

Panama City, Panama

The old fishing harbor remains, but the ridge behind has been transformed into a world city, completely out of proportion to the size of the country which it serves as capital and economic hub. [2017]

Singapore, Republic of Singapore

Just think how tempting it must be to turn this patch of green into a parking lot. That is what would happen in American cities: until recently, at least. Singapore, however, wants to become not an asphalt desert but a "city in a garden." [2016]

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Purse and puppy.
Back to the cam.
Self-aware yuppie.
Life is so glam.
Eyes on the tower.
She's moving up.
Sydney's her city.
But her love is her pup.
[2011]

Begg Estate, Gibraltar

Gibraltar covers only 2.6 square miles, but The Rock itself covers at least half of that. So, what happens when the population keeps increasing? There are only two options: (1) Go vertical: Build high-rises. (2) Go horizontal: Build out into the sea. You can see the results of both processes from the Gibraltar Cable Car. [2015]

Ronceverte, West Virginia, USA

The name of this redling, the Hoke's Mill Covered Bridge, brings together two historic entities: a mill and a bridge. They often went together because mills needed business from the other side of the stream. This one is located near Ronceverte, West Virginia. In what county? Greenbrier, which is obvious because Ronceverte translates as "green briar." [2017]

Glouster, Ohio, USA

How many bridges are required when a river, a road, and a railroad cross paths? Two: one to carry the railroad across the water, and another to carry the road. Such a convergence is not unique, but when you add a bright red covered bridge, you have taken a bland landscape and made it sparkle. [2017]

Princeton, Illinois, USA

The caption for Princeton's Red Bridge (originally built in 1863) is provided by the sign over the portal: "Five Dollars Fine For Driving More Than Twelve Horses Mules Or Cattle At One Time Or For Leading Any Beast Faster Than A Walk On Or Across This Bridge". [2019]

Omaha, Nebraska, USA

Thanks to Jun Kaneko, some whimsy has been permanently added to Omaha's zoo. Meet the tanukis: two of many fanciful renditions of Japan's raccoon dogs. In Japanese folk culture, tanukis are are also spiritual beings, shape shifters, and the ones responsible for mysterious events. The irony: no raccoon dogs are among the species exhibited at the zoo. [2019]

Rock Port, Missouri, USA

Don't call them windmills. Call them wind turbines. They are all over the Midwest. But, here in  Missouri you will find them only in the northwest corner. If your eyes are sharp, you can see that this is but one of many turbines in a huge wind farm. Today, a whopping 7% of U.S. electricity is generated by the wind. [2019]

Marquette, Iowa, USA

The Marquette Bridge spans the Mississippi River. On the Iowa side is the town of Marquette. On the Wisconsin side is a statue of Marquette. To the southeast is the site where Marquette (and his partner Joliet) first tethered the Mississippi River to the Europeanized world. As for that boat on a pole: a monument to Europeanization? [2019]

Dexter, Minnesota, USA

Banners can spruce up any town. So can flags. Together, they are almost like fireworks on the Fourth. Happy Independence Day! [2019]

Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, USA

Velkommen to the troll capital of America, Mt. Horeb, where Main Street is called the Trollway. With two dozen trolls around town, visitors quickly get the idea that the folks here are proud of their Norwegian heritage. [2019]

Amsterdam, Netherlands

The Dutch dominated the 17th century, and much of the wealth that flowed back to Holland was invested in architecture by the merchant class. Their canal houses were tall and narrow with a pulley at the top so they could use the attic to store merchandise such as spices or cotton. Today, those pulleys are used to get furniture in and out of th upper floors. [2015]

Granby, Quebec, Canada

Happy Canada Day! It is time to celebrate more than a century and a half of unity. On July 1, 1867, three colonies became one: Canada (Quebec + Ontario), Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. With confederation came more self-governing powers and less Crown control. Nevertheless, Canada still recognizes the Crown. Elizabeth II is head of state. [2009]