New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Don't we all need to gaze into our future right now? What does the rest of the year hold? Doesn't 2021 just have to be better? You can be sure that Royal Street does not look like this at the moment. Alas, we may never go back to the "good old days," which we always imagine were better than they really were anyway. [2018]

Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Looking at water is so cooling. Listening to water is so calming. Feeling a watery mist is so refreshing. Fountain Square offers all three, all summer, to all who gather. [2019]

Stone Mountain, Georgia, USA

Is it an authentic covered bridge? Yes. The World Guide to Covered Bridges logs it in as 10-44-01. But, the Stone Mountain Bridge is not geographically authentic. Originally located in Athens, it was moved to Stone Mountain Park in 1965. The bridge has African-American roots: The designer and builder was Washington W. King. [2020]

Foster, Rhode Island, USA

Is it an authentic covered bridge? No. If you were using the World Guide to Covered Bridges, you would not be able to find it. Why? Because the truss bears none of the weight of the roadway. That mission is accomplished by six I-beams that stretch from bank to bank. The Swamp River bridge (with its lattice truss) dates from the late 20th century. [2019]

Landisburg, Pennsylvania, USA

Is it an authentic covered bridge? Yes. Rice Bridge has been given a number in the World Guide to Covered Bridges: 38-50-10. The first two numbers refer to state and county; the last means that it is the 10th covered bridge enumerated in Perry County. Built: 1869. Length: 132 feet. Type: Burr & Queen. And, through it, you can still drive! [2018]

Albany, New York, USA

The architecture of the Empire State's capitol seems to be a fitting place from which to govern an empire. Romanesque architecture just seems to exude the heritage of imperial Rome. But, this must be the lightest Romanesque ever (thanks to the French influence). Happy 232nd birthday New York! [2019]

Siem Reap, Cambodia

What is overhead? Parasols or parapluies? Do they shield (para) from the sun (sol) or from the rain (pluie)? In Cambodia, both. But, historically, their first job was as umbrellas: to provide a little shade (umbra). What does all that have to do with parachute, solstice, pluvial, and umbrage? [2016]