Roof with a view

Some of the tallest buildings downtown were the churches

Talmadge Memorial Bridge – Built in 1990

Public Works

The Bird Girl

Supposedly, these nasty little creatures called chiggers live in the Spanish moss, they get into your skin and eat you from the inside out

Life finds a way

Sunset – Tybee Island

Rose-colored glasses

Reflections

Fort Pulaski – Built in 1829, it was named after a Polish soldier who fought under George Washington during the revolutionary war. During the civil war, the confederates used the fort as a garrison to protect the Port of Savannah from being taken by Union forces. In July of 1862, after only 30 hours of shelling, the Confederates surrendered the fort. This remained the only action the fort has ever seen in it’s 184 year history

At the ready

The flag only had 32 stars on it, representative of the 32 union states at the time the civil war ended

Moation

One of the coolest parts of the visit was the live musket demonstration

Remnants

Layering

The battery – where all the ammo was stored

Graffiti from the Union troops

At the ready

The first known picture of baseball being played in combat was taken in front of the far wall

Making due

Powderkegs

Brickiti – Written by 19 year old John Charters, a Union soldier stationed at the fort

The catacombs – notice the mortar was made from shells in the bay

Boogie Chillen

Mud critters

What would a trip to Tybee be without Bingo! at the Foreign Legion??

Through the trees

Bar-None

Sunking

The brownstones always look majestic after a fresh coating of powder

Poppa’s Helper

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Scene of the crime

Downshafts

Boxed-in

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Looking East

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Snowtrix

Pooches at play

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Tale of two cities

Suspended

Down Perislope

The meadow was packed with sledders. The most I’ve ever seen on Picnic Hill in 26 years

The steady stream of sledders reminded me of old army movies with bombers dropping lines of parachutes from their steel bellies

Child’s Play

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Collisions were sometimes unavoidable…

Backdraft

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Snowbomb

Brooklyngenuity – Cleaning snow off your car with an empty pizza box

Snow spraying from the rooftops on 7th Ave

Night Settles

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Snowmist

As an entry to this magnificent country, we came through the decrepit jewel of Cuba – Havana. In this bubbling cauldron of life, food, dance, charm and hustle one could walk the streets aimlessly and become overwhelmed with amazing sights. It was by far one of the most unique cities I will ever visit.

View from the Hotel Sevilla. Built in 1908, the hotel was known as a symbol of Cuba’s mafia elite.

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Prado

The sounds in the morning were incredible. These kids were marching and chanting like soldiers up and down the Prado.

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After the rain

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Desayuno

Sewer Cap

Sevilla Hotel Lobby

Upkeep

The whole time, we hardly saw a basketball hoop that was still up. I wonder if people used them for toilets??

The Capitol building in Havana Square was modeled after the US Capitol. It differs in dimension only by a couple of centimeters

The cars were all kept up remarkably well. As one cabby described to us, his car was his livelihood.. without it he’d die

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A dentro

This was the only really weird Santeria nonsense we saw down there (why waste good food?). This dead chicken was laid at the base of a tree beside the Capitol

Calle confundido

Open air markets were everywhere. Fresh meats and fruits could be bought but were quite expensive for the average citizen

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I loved how the long the staircases were, they just disappeared into the darkness of each house

Ché’s words were painted everywhere. “Patria o Muerte, venceremos.” (Liberty or Death, we will win)

The animals of Havana walked around like they owned the place. They were totally oblivious to any people or cars moving around them

Sir Scratchalot

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Swangin’

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Lucky

This cat looked really constipated

Heavy Metal

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If it wasn’t for the tons of people walking through them, you would have thought the apocalypse had just occurred in some places.

Reflections

Green-Go

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Considering there isn’t many materials available for upkeep of a home, Cubans have had to be quite resourceful over the past 54 years. Paint has proven to be a homeowner’s best friend. Looking up some of the blocks, you could swear you were back in the 1950′s

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Viejíta

Scibbles

There was even some stencil art

Up to Columbus Circle

Reminded me of old New York

These kids were knocking on doors asking people for clothes…

They were perfect candidates for some of the clothes people donated from Old First Dutch Reformed Church in Brooklyn…

Arguing over Dominoes

Jammin

Keepup

The balcony – A Cuban’s best friend

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Social Description

La Universidad de Habana

Historical Presence

Adoric

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National Game

There were no advertisements on the whole island, only revolutionary slogans. It was weird not being bombarded with ads everywhere we went

Occupy Havana

Sax in the city

Cavitti

Hipsters of Havana

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Inframatic

1958

Dashboard Allowances

La Gloria

Makeshift Gym

The Malecón – Havana’s seawall that was built in the early 20th century. It’s meant to serve as protection against the raging surf, but it really serves as a promenade from lovers and fisherman looking for a “free” meal.

Distance

Chillin

Well rounded

Tidal Wave

The Malecón is for lovers…

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the flag was made out of puzzle pieces someone glued to the sea wall

Lunero

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Hard day’s walk

Carlos the Cabbie in his 1951 Chevy (His “Vida”, as he called her)

Castillo de Morro – Built in 1589

Originally built by the Spanish, it helped protect the harbor from outsiders until the British took it in the seven-days war in 1762. It’s famous for its views of Havana harbor and its open latrines that empty out into the sea below.

The only church we saw in Havana

Viejo/Nuevo

At attention

The castle was made from whatever materials were in the harbor

Luz

On the north side, the guns were a bit more modern

World famous potties – Can you find the coral cross?

Leftovers

Kyooba

South side of the castle

Work left undone

Infra2

Down the grid

Remnants

Always watching

Changes…

Long lines at the banks for the monthly rations

Quintissential

Nothing goes to waste

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Tight fit

Dekor

Party Favors

Limelight

This kid was doing the moonwalk

Spanish Remnant

Hombre de Pajaros

Habaneras

Who’s crazier?

These old wooden doors lined the streets. They were at least nine feet tall

Gata

Third eye

Happy place

Nightscape

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Driving around Cuba was a surreal experience. The roads and surrounding landscapes were so much like the people.. full of life, funny and sometimes hard to read. Over 1,215 kilometers we dodged oxen, had one flat tire, picked up a hitchhiker and avoided being swallowed by enormous potholes. It was an amazing adventure.

Sierra

Some driving tips -

1. Always break for a calf

2. Oxen pass to the left

3. Try not to get a flat in the “campo”

4. Be wary of funeral processions

5. Dogs love road puddles

6. Try not to swerve on the Peajes (Land Bridges)

7. Time traveling mirages are common

8. Always be wary of burning stuff

Las Playas

Varadero

Ancón Peninsula

Beachitti

Cielo de Fuego

Cayo Coco

“Our Beach”

Cayo Blanco

Melia

Sunken boats scare the daylights out of me

Trinidad

Not only the surname of one of our favorite friends, but a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the southern coast of Cuba. It was founded in 1514.

Inside a Trinidadian Home

Of all places, Trinidad was the biggest time warp. You got the feeling that things hadn’t changed much here since Pizarro helped establish the city in the 16th century.

The main attraction is the Iglesia de San Fransisco. It was difficult to find any churches in Cuba, let alone ones that dominated the landscape. The chruch dates back from the time of the town’s foundation when it was originally an Arab mosque. The remains of Pizarro’s family members are buried beneath it.

Inside the church’s beautiful courtyard

As with most churches in Cuba, all religious items have been stripped out and replaced with displays glorifying the revolution. These commies are quite proud of themselves…

Tiled Floors on the roof

View from the Bell Tower

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Lost in translation

Plaza Mayor

Calle Viejo

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Wallflowers

Animals of Southern Cuba

Dog Daze

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Sleeping Tom

This Red-Tailed Hawk was just hanging on top of one of the huts, bending back and forth in the ocean breeze

Friendly Skies

In the bird world, there’s nothing cooler than watching Pelicans go fishing

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Last night’s dinner

Room with a view

Road spoils

Mighty Slick – Cayo Coco

The typical dwelling you’d see on the road (dog not included)

Caballo escondido

Grate Escape

Santa Clara

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Street seen

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Tres Generaciónes

Anywhere there was space, people grew crops. This was a lot in between two buildings by the “Ferro Carril”

Santa Clara had the nicest baseball stadium we saw

Evening commute

Open sewage ran into this creek.. it smelled a bit ripe

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Cuban Rug

Sweatshop

Dinnertime

El Dedo

What the heck are YOU looking at??

Casa particular

This guy made one of the best pizzas I’ve ever had

In bloom

Home is where the hut is

Good Eats

Mar-velous

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Entering Yellowstone’s Fringe..

Climbing

These Golden-Mantled Ground Squirrels were the most curious wild creatures I’d ever seen

Shoshone Wilderness

Long way down

Beartooth Pass – Shoshone National Wilderness

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Snowmelt

Daybreaking

Bebear!

Hidden Falls

Cook City Store – In business since 1886

Ya herd?

Around the bend – Lamar Valley

Hazardous

Beef’lo

The Road Crew – West Yellowstone

Bird on a Barb

Fire Hole Formation

Firehole Falls

Amazure

Prime Ordeal

Prime Evil

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Take Heat..

Black Sand Basin

These green tendrils loved growing in the warm waters of the black tar basin

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Rockgunk

Flocking Pelicans

Most Faithful Geyser

Lewis Lake

Driving Out Of Yellowstone

Jackson Lake – Grand Teton National Park

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Treetons

Hell’s Half Acre – South Dakota

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Mt. Rushmore

Dead Prez 

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Father

Far Arains

Enchanted Highway – ND

Cowser

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Celestial

Glendive, Montana

Freight Ride

I Look like a hay bale, right??

Old RR Trestle – MT

Closer to Home

Sheeple

Road warrior Frank can be seen in the landscape

Tumblin’

Deer would just graze on the lawns, they were totally fearless

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Small Town Notes – Glendive, MT

Moonscape – MT

Easy ride

Off-Roading in the Tetons

We’d had a huge bonfire the night before and threw a bottle into the coals. It was still showing love the next morning

Rusticles – Shoshoni, SD

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Note Road Warrior Frank in the background

Bike Week – Sturgis, SD

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Because of all the open space, wind farms were prevalent

Road Mirage

St. Paul

Mickey’s Diner was transported via rail line from Jersey back in the 60′s..

What my father would call a “Greasy Spoon Joint”..

St. Paul’s Cathedral

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View from the hill

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Local venue

This jail was under renovation, it looked like it’s guts had been spilled from the side..

Not sure if this junkie had attended the nearby music school, but he was an excellent pianist. It was sad to watch such wasted talent..

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A real fake…

Shadow Walk

The pirate exhibition at the Minneapolis Natural History Museum featured the recovered wreck of the pirate ship Wydah. The ship was being used to transport slaves from West Africa to the Caribbean in the early 18th century. Hundreds of pieces of eight were found with the wreck of the 295 year old wreck, booty from all of the unfortunate vessels that were victimized by the pirates aboard the ship

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This guy was purchased during the mummy craze of the 1920s after Tut was found. Mummies were dug up by grave robbers, stripped of their jewels and sold in the local markets to tourists. Amazing to imagine that on a visit to Egypt, one could buy mummified remains and ship them back home to display..

Iron Snake

Friendly Skies

Trusty companions

Time Out

Abandoned House – Montana

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Old Mormon outpost – Grand Teton National Park

Drink Up

Poptop

Bison Jaw

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Inescapable

Flat our of Time

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Generally Electric

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Shadowlands

Wide range

You learn something new every day

This was on one of the bedroom doors

This was in the crawl space, it was the only place I had a bad feeling that something was watching us

Someone punched the wall at some point

Kitchen

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Fancy knickers

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High and Dry

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Can you find the skull?

Eagle’s nest

This kid’s store was gutted by fire in 1966. As you’ll see from the inside, nothing had been touched in the 44 years since. Creepy wasn’t the word for this place..

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All of the clothes were still in their packages

Unheeded warning

Caps

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Hanging Out

Furniture Store

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Main Street – Shoshoni, SD

They tried to cover the abandoned storefronts with murals 34 years ago

Sole survivors

Northeast

Southwest

Apparently, I was there during a rare period of good weather. It rains constantly for the majority of the year. You heard calls to “enjoy the sunshine” everywhere

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The Relic

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Looking North

Window shopping

2 birds

RRxing

Methadone clinic

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One of many bridges connecting downtown to the East

Barrin’ Hills

Morning light

Matrices

Homeless were everywhere. After the police cracked down on meth abuse in the late 90′s, heroin started flooding the market. One of the locals told me that over 3/4 of the homeless are addicts.

The Rose City

These bubblers were everywhere

Rise

Shine

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MORNin’

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Heavy metal

Oldport

Well preserved

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Caught napping

Caught shooting

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New greets old

Dude seemed upset that the guy gave him only change

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Tillamook State Forest

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The freshest clams I’ve ever had

The tracks went all the way north and followed the 101

Gull Rules

Shack with a view

When you were done with your clams, oysters or crab, you just threw the shells back to where they came from

Nehalem

The biggest beach I’ve ever seen

Surflight

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You needed to watch yourself whilst wading in the frigid surf, sea wasps were always creeping

The most patient dog I’ve ever seen. He would lay until his master threw the frisbee.. and never missed a catch.

Seaberries

Broken Pines

The cove

Dinotraxx

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Sandkrab

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Tracking

Seadogs

People on the beach let these fire lanterns go. They flew in the air for quite some time before going out. It totally added to the surreal moonscape of the beach.

Local Catter

Goonie rocks outside Garibaldi

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Street Art

Swamp Thangs

Remnants of Katrina

Streets and Dwellings

People, Animals and Food

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Candy

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This One-Way Sign dates back to the 40s

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StickyGuy

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Hands Down

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Prints

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Banksy’s Umbrella Girl – Done on the 3rd Anniversary of Katrina

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#1955

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7th Ward