Lisbon’s National Tile Museum

March 13th, 2021 Today we’re back in Lisbon after our week-long virtual tour around Portugal. We’re exploring ceramic tile, a form of art found throughout the country. What follows below is a slightly abbreviated version of my original post from 2017. If you haven’t read it, enjoy! If you read it again, thank you! If you’re not interested, hope to

Monsaraz Collage

March 9th, 2021 Yesterday we met the imposing watchtower of Monsaraz, Portugal. Today we’re on a walking tour through the narrow streets and into the castle. Just a reminder — click on any photo to view it larger, in a carousel. This tidy little town enjoys a fabulous panoramic view of the surrounding landscape, while the interior is dotted with

Sintra’s Castle of the Moors

February 27th, 2021 After yesterday’s tour through Pena Palace, today we’re continuing the journey at neighboring Castelo dos Mouros, or Castle of the Moors. The contrast between these neighboring mountaintop forts could not be greater — one colorful and ostentatious to the south; the other rugged and bare to the north. They do share one thing in common — a

Sintra’s Pena Palace

February 26th, 2021 Today we’re west of Lisbon, in Sintra, exploring Pena Palace. Painted in such vibrant colors, the fairy tale exterior belies the palace’s 600+ year history as (among other things) a former home of the royal family of Portugal. Together with the blue sky, the trio of primary colors and jumble of mixed shapes are an odd sight

Siem Reap, Cambodia Part 2

February 7th, 2021 After yesterday’s tour around Siem Reap and Angkor Wat, today we’re exploring Ta Prohm and Pre Rup — two smaller temples in the vicinity. I was here over a decade ago in October, 2010 and originally posted this story in 2011. Ta Prohm, overgrown with vegetation and lost in time, was to me the most beautiful temple

Siem Reap, Cambodia Part 1

February 6th, 2021 Today we’ve arrived in Siem Reap, Cambodia for a virtual visit to Angkor Wat and surrounding temples. Enjoy! More tomorrow, Kelly Post of the Day: Adding a bit of light to the darkness as we get through the pandemic together. This series features travel photos from my archives, shared with you while staying close to home. ***

A Tomb with Good Bones

September 26th, 2020 Today we’re taking our last look at Chichén Itzá, at the Ossuary or Tomb of the Great Priest. This structure is smaller than the Temple of Kukulcan but equally captivating in its balance and form. As we often say about well-designed houses, this place has “good bones,” in more ways than one. Built of seven layers and

Sport & Skullduggery at Chichén Itzá

September 25th, 2020 Today we’re visiting the Grand Ball Court of Chichén Itzá, located at the northwest edge of the site. Just outside the court we find the tzompantli, loosely translated as “skull rack.” Here, the skulls are carved in stone, placed on vertical sticks, a macabre sight in the light of day. In my research of the Maya, I’ve