Wishbone Ash in Texas

Every airport has its own unique style. True to form, everything is bigger in Texas. Does this count as art, architecture or humor? I'll let the reader be the judge.

The day dawn is breaking, the world is awaking - in Miami

I landed in Miami at oh-dark-thirty, as we say in my family. I'd flown out of Peru, so it was 4:30 AM body time, 5:30 AM Miami time, pitch dark as I rode the sky train to the terminal. But in the midst of the terminal was this lovely atrium displaying the bright dawn, whether real or man-made, I couldn't tell. But beautiful and heart-warming, nonetheless.

Mix and Match Architecture - A Striking Contrast in Vancouver

When I travel to major cities, I love looking at the architecture. It tells a story to me, a little history of the city and when it was growing. For example, here is a quaint 10-story molded concrete building. This would be a large building for many cities, and may tell a story of growth in days gone by. Yet it is dwarfed by the glass-and-chrome skyscrapers around it. Vancouver has been a successful city for a very long time and shows no sign of slowing down.

Lima - City of Three Contrasts

On my first taxi ride through Lima, what struck me most was the contrasts.

For example, near my office, the walls of the freeway are beautifully landscaped. Instead of bill boards, companies plant flowers in the shape of the corporate icon. Yet on the way from the airport, we passed an abandoned toll plaza on the road. My Bay Area and East Coast turnpike friends: Can you image a toll plaza being abandoned and left to rot?











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Another contrast is the bright glitz of gambling parlors sied-by-side with high brick walls, electric fences, and razor wire adorning small businesses and private residences.




And the third contrast that struck me was the very large number of buildings that looked like burned out hulks right next to modern office and apartment buildings. It gave the city overtones of random destuction and made me think of 1940's photos of Dresden.

Crystal Clear in Vancouver

It was a beautiful morning in Vancouver. The historical flavor of the Wells Fargo Bank was a nice contrast to the looming skyscrapers in the background. The sky was a beautiful crystal blue with just enough cloud to make it you appreciate the sun. It was the sort of morning that makes you glad to be alive.