The Hejaz Railway – part 1

Syria, November 2005: When I learnt that the Hejaz Railway was actually still operational, I knew I had to ride it. I’d always admired David Lean’s classic 1962 film “Lawrence of Arabia”-and to actually ride the rails that T.E.Lawrence and his band of Arab rebels had so successfully attacked and destroyed- well it just had to […]

Sinai

Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, Nov 2005: The usual way to ascend Mount Sinai is via a group bus trip from Dahab in the late evening- then do the guided tour from about midnight to the summit. The reason being you will be at the top when the sun rises in the east… It’s a cool idea […]

Beaufort

Beaufort Castle, Lebanon, November 2005: The Crusader fortress of Beaufort Castle- constructed in the 12th century- has been the focus for countless battles and the home of many occupiers over the centuries… Beaufort (French for “beautiful fortress”) sits atop a 300 meter cliff which declines steeply to the Litani River. Its commanding location, with views […]

Citadel

Aleppo, Syria, November 2005: With the escalating conflict in Syria spreading to the country’s largest city, Aleppo, it’s about time I made a post about this ancient city. Also, over the coming weeks and months I will be publishing more images and stories from the Middle East in general, as it continues to fracture and […]

Dalí

Figueres, Catalonia, Spain, Jan 2005: In early 2005 while on a break in Catalonia, I visited the Teatro Museo Dalí. The great surrealist Salvador Dali was born in the town of Figueres in 1904. The heart of the museum was originally the town’s theatre, bombed during the Spanish civil war. In the 1960’s it was […]

Damascus

Damascus, Syria, November 2005: With the escalating crisis in Syria and it’s spiral into civil war, it’s about time I posted some more images from Syria in 2005… Of the seven countries I visited in my late 2005 Athens to Cairo overland trip- over half are now going through dramatic changes… Lebanon was once again […]

Hare Krsna

Praha, Czech Republic, May 2005: These Hare Krishna acolytes in downtown Prague seemed to generate a lot more interest (or controversy)- than in any other city I’ve seen them in… Canon EOS 1N/28-135is/Fuji neg

Cedars of God

Bcharre, Lebanon, Nov 2005: One of the few remaining groves of Cedar trees (Lebanon’s national symbol) are on Mount Makmel near the town of Bcharre. One of the trees has been carved with religious icons such as the crucifixion of Jesus. Bcharre’ most famous son is Lebanese-American artist, poet and writer Khalil Gibran, born here […]

Holiday In Beirut

Beirut, Lebanon, November 2005: While holidaying in Beirut in 2005- my first venture downtown inevitably ended under the towering, war ravaged hulk of the Holiday Inn… The Holiday Inn was just one of the many hotels that became infamous during the conflict known as the Battle of the Hotels or (Front des Hotels)– a brutal […]